Tigers make their one session count
Bangladesh would feel they had done a decent job despite a stable start from the visitors on the first day of the second Test as West Indies ended on 223 for five at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Nkrumah Bonner again showed plenty of character, following on from his magnificent 86-run knock on debut in the preceding Chattogram Test, and perhaps will hold the key for the West Indies when he resumes on 74 on the second day.
From Bangladesh's point of view, right-arm pacer Abu Jayed shone through hard work that yielded two wickets on his comeback to the team in place of seamer Mustafizur Rahman. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam also bagged two while Soumya Sarkar, filling the gap of a second seamer with his part-time gentle medium. Also bagged a wicket.
First session
It seemed to be a good toss to win for West Indies and skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell started off with a positive frame of mind with the bat. Jayed remained on the shorter side in the first session and was unable to trouble the two openers in the first session alongside the three spinners -- Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan.
Brathwaite and Campbell utilised the scoring opportunities offered by the Bangladeshi bowlers. It was Taijul who finally provided the breakthrough as Campbell paid the price for trying the sweep shot too often. The left hander went for a sweep and was hit in the back leg, with even a review unable to help. He departed for 36, adding 66 for the opening stand. However, the first session belonged to the visitors, who scored 84 runs before lunch.
Second session
The Tigers fought back well in the post-lunch session with a more disciplined approach from the bowlers, especially Jayed, who bowled much fuller and often asked questions. The pacer eventually struck, Shayne Mosely dragging the ball onto the stumps while going for a drive to a full delivery outside off.
Brathwaite, who was looking good, finally got frustrated with Soumya's tempting deliveries around the off stump and tried to cut the ball but only managed an edge to the lone man in slip after scoring 47.
Mominul maintained the pressure, rotating Jayed often in exchange for shorter spells and the pacer delivered by getting the scalp of first Test hero Kyle Mayers. The left-hander could not stop himself from playing a drive outside off away from his body and edged it to the wide slip on five.
Losing three quick wickets in no time left the West Indies struggling on 116 for four. It was the best session for Bangladesh as the hosts not just picked three wickets but also managed to dry up the scoring opportunities, conceding 62 runs from 29 overs.
Third session
The visitors returned strongly, with Bonner and Jermain Blackwood starting to rebuild. They added 62 runs for the fifth wicket after tea, but once again Taijul forced the batsmen into a mistake. Blackwood handed a simple return catch to the bowler attempting a drive after scoring 28 runs. But since then Bonner remained solid and reached his second fifty alongside Da Silva, who was unbeaten on 22, as the pair negotiated the last session well, adding 77 runs in the final 32 overs.
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