Under-the-radar top-grader

Shakib Al Hasan claimed the plaudits on the third and ultimately final day of the first Test against the West Indies yesterday as he set a world record. The day prior, Nayeem Hasan had stolen the limelight with a world record of his own while on the first day it was Mominul Haque's century that made headlines.

All the while, there was one person who played his role and, once again, quietly ensured the Tigers' first victory on home soil against the Caribbean outfit.

Since picking up a maiden five-wicket haul on his Test debut against the same opposition four years ago, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam has never looked back and the understated 26-year-old -- now established as one of the most important members of the Bangladesh Test side -- picked up six wickets in the second innings as the visitors folded for 139 in chase of a 204-run target.

It was Taijul's fourth five-wicket haul in the last three Tests, continuing the calm and collected left-armer's superb run of form this year that has seen him scalp 40 wickets from just six games.

That puts him fourth in the list of wicket-takers in Tests this year, six wickets behind South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada, who leads the table with 46 scalps from nine matches.

Tajiul has picked up five-wicket hauls on seven occasions and has also bagged ten wickets in one game -- against Zimbabwe in Sylhet earlier this month -- to take his career tally to an impressive 94 wickets from just 22 Tests.

Through a good understanding of both the game and his own limitations, Taijul, who led the spin attack in the absence of Shakib Al Hasan against Zimbabwe, continued his fine run against the Calypso Kings.

Taijul, who had picked up just one wicket in the first innings before his sparkling second innings showing, drew high praise from his skipper.

"The best thing about Taijul is that he works extremely hard on his bowling and he bowled brilliantly. I hope he will continue to bowl this way in the upcoming Test as well and not only in one innings; I hope he will pick five wickets in both innings," Shakib told the media during the post-match press conference at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram yesterday.

With the second and final Test against the West Indies from November 30, which will be the last Test of 2018 for the Tigers, Taijul will definitely be aiming to finish an already extraordinary year on a high.