Bangladesh boast huge lead after wicket-filled day

SCORECARD

There were a few collapses during the course of the day. West Indies rued a slide that saw them lose five wickets for just six runs, which undid the good work done by Jermaine Blackwood earlier in the day. West Indies conceded a 177-run lead, after which the tables were turned and Bangladesh lost a few early wickets.

Despite that, they ended the day much the happier side, and are primed to post a daunting lead on the fourth day.

The omens were always there for West Indies when they lost Nkrumah Bonner, overnight on 17*, was dismissed off the very first ball of the day, when Taijul Islam got one to take the edge of his bat. Kraigg Brathwaite, overnight on 49, completed his half-century and added 55 for the fourth wicket with the adventurous Kyle Mayers.

It seemed West Indies had decided to adopt a slightly more aggressive approach, and they crossed the 100 mark with Mayers and Brathwaite looking good together. However, the approach risked wickets, and it came when Brathwaite was cleaned up by one that turned sharply from Nayeem Hasan. Mayers didn’t last long thereafter, and having scored a 65-ball 40, he was trapped in front by Mehidy Hasan. West Indies were 154/4.

It was then that Blackwood and Joshua Da Silva steadied things. They put on a 99-run partnership, taking the sting out of the Bangladesh bowlers, and frustrating them. They ensured Lunch was brought up without any further losses, and then batted through a majority of the second session, during the course of which Blackwood brought up his half-century.

They took West Indies past the 200-run mark, and so long as they were in the middle, it seemed the visitors would reduce the deficit significantly. However, late in the session, everything went awry. A length delivery from Nayeem kept low, Da Silva poked at it, and was caught behind for 42. In the very next over, Blackwood attempted to work one down to fine leg, and ended up gifting a catch to the wicketkeeper. West Indies were reduced to 253/7.

After resumption in the final session, Bangladesh didn’t waste time cleaning up the lower order – West Indies managed to add just six runs in the session before losing their last three wickets. West Indies conceded a massive lead.

The visitors weren’t disheartened. In the second over of the next innings, Rahkeem Cornwall had both Tamim Iqbal and Najmul Hossain Shanto dismissed for nought. He had Iqbal trapped in front with a length delivery, and two balls later, he had Shanto edging one to slip. Bangladesh were 1/2.

Shadman Islam and captain Mominul Haque attempted to steady the ship, but Shannon Gabriel came in and had Shadman caught behind off a short ball. However, Mominul and Mushfiqur Rahim, the new man, ensured there were no further stumbles, taking Bangladesh into stumps at 47/3.