Prolonged partnerships the missing ingredient
The saying that partnerships are key applies even more strongly for batting teams in the longest format and carrying on to make a big score after being set at the crease becomes even more vital.
But Bangladesh did the opposite as they returned to Test cricket after nearly a year's gap ever since skipper Mominul Haque won the toss and elected to bat on the opening day of the first Test against West Indies at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram yesterday.
The visitors will be satisfied to have sent five Bangladesh batsmen back on the first day while the hosts will be hoping that an unbeaten 49-run partnership between Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das grows when Bangladesh resume on 242 for 5.
Shakib remained composed for his unbeaten 92-ball 39 while Liton was fortunate early in his innings but later settled and was not out on 34 off 58 balls.
The scenario was disappointing for the hosts ever since Tamim Iqbal's early dismissal when he chopped an incoming Kemar Roach delivery onto the stumps after scoring nine.
Left-hander Shadman Islam showed his talent on his comeback to the side as he occupied the crease well.
He and left-hander Nazmul Hossain Shanto started to build a partnership on a pitch that had very little for the Windies seamers. But a lapse in concentration after getting set at the crease was witnessed among all the batters who got dismissed on the first day despite getting starts.
It started with Nazmul, who had a terrible misunderstanding with Shadman after looking for the second run which was never there. He was run out on 25 to end a promising 43-run first-wicket stand. Bangladesh went to lunch on 69 for 2, with Shadman and skipper Mominul starting the rebuilding process.
And just when it seemed the hosts might have completed a session without losing a wicket, there was a double blow.
Mominul fell first for 26, ending his partnership with Shadman at 53, after being unable to resist the temptation from a tossed-up delivery from left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican that was lofted to short mid-wicket.
The left-arm spinner was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors, scalping three wickets. He trapped Shadman leg before just after he had reached his second fifty in Tests.
However, the left-hander might have felt disappointed to not opt for a review once he returned to the dressing room and saw the replays of the ball missing leg stump by a huge margin.
The Tigers once again lost two wickets in a session and went to tea on 140 for four.
The third and final session arguably remained the most productive one for the hosts, as they added 102. It would have been even better had they not lost Mushfiqur Rahim for 38.
The experienced wicketkeeper-batsman was involved in yet another fifty-plus stand with Shakib but he too failed to cash in.
It was Warrican again denting the Tigers batting line-up as he managed to take an outside edge from Mushfiqur.