West Indies deny a Bangladesh upset to close in on victory
Despite showing a performance to savour after a first innings collapse, Bangladesh stood on the brink of a defeat in the first Test against West Indies.
Bangladesh also experienced a collapse in the second innings and appeared to taste an innings defeat but a stubborn batting of skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Nurul Hasan Sohan helped them set a 84-run target for West Indies to win the game in on an increasingly deteriorating pitch at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Saturday.
West Indies then survived a fiery spell of fast bowler Syed Khaled Ahmed who reduced them to 9-3 as Bangladesh sensed an unlikely victory.
However John Campbell and Jermaine Blackwood eased the tension in West Indies camp, helping the side reach 49-3 at stumps on day three.
They now needed just 35 runs on day four to seal the deal. Campbell was batting on 28 with Blackwood on 17. Khaled took all three wickets, conceding 14 runs in five overs.
But resuming the day on 50-2, Bangladesh were reduced to 112-6 and it appeared that they would end up tasting an innings defeat.
West Indies bowlers broke through o n day three with Kyle Myers who removed Najmul Hossain Shanto on 17.
Another overnight batter Mahmudul Hasan Joy played patiently but saw the wickets tumbling at the other end.
After scoring a duck in the first innings, Mominul Haque this time made 4, extending his lean batting streak to ninth straight single digit figure.
Inform Liton Das then was out on 17 and soon Joy followed him after playing 153 balls for his 42.
Shakib and Sohan then kept Bangladesh unscathed in whole second session, reversing the pressure on West Indies.
In the process they both brought up their half-centuries as Bangladesh sensed an unlikely chance to produce a victory.
Things changed dynamically when Kemar Roach returned with fire in the last session of the day. He firstly dismissed Shakib for 63, brining an end to his 123-run partnership with Sohan.
Four overs later Roach broke the resistance of Sohan also, getting rid of him for 64. He then cleaned up the tail in no time as Bangladesh lost last four wickets for 13 runs, all to Roach who ended up with 5-53.
Source: BSS
