Published on 09:57 PM, June 25, 2022

Three quick scalps see Tigers back in hunt

Shoriful Islam (L) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (R), of Bangladesh, celebrate the dismissal of John Campbell, of West Indies, during the second day of the 2nd Test between Bangladesh and West Indies at Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on June 25, 2022. Photo: AFP

The West Indies were cruising along nicely until Bangladesh picked three quick wickets near Lunch on day two of the second and final Test at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia today

The Windies, who resumed day's play on 67 for naught, are 137 for four after 42 overs at Lunch. The Caribbeans trail by 97 runs with two new batters – Jermaine Blackwood and Kyle Mayers – set to resume the second session.  

Earlier, Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful began the proceedings and tried to hit the deck on a consistent area, unlike how they bowled on day one. However, the overnight Windies openers negotiated with ease, periodically picking boundaries as well.

The home side raced to hundred, their first century stand for the opening pair after almost four years. Coincidentally, the last four century stands for the opening pair all came against Bangladesh and Brathwaite was present in all four.

Right after reaching hundred, success arrived for the Tigers at last as Campbell tried to pull a Shoriful delivery off the park but instead got a leading edge off the glove to the wicket-keeper Nurul Hasan Sohan. Campbell departed for 45 off 79 deliveries.  

Raymon Reifer joined Brathwaite in the middle and kept the scoreboard ticking for the home side. Skipper Brathwaite reached his career's 27th fifty but soon fell to a sublime delivery from Mehedi Hasan Miraz. Brathwaite offered a forward defensive stroke to a flighter but saw his stumps dislodged as the ball straightened a bit and went past the outside edge of his bat. The Windies skipper scored a patient 51 off 107 balls, featuring seven boundaries.   

The Tigers had their tails up and Khaled Ahmed got in the act as Reifer inside-edged the ball to get bowled out on 22. Khaled then picked up his second wicket as he removed new batter Nkrumah Bonner for a duck in a similar fashion as Reifer. The home side went from 131 for one to 132 for four and thus lost the momentum completely in the span of two overs.