Taijul takes five, Bangladesh sight victory

Sports Desk:  Bangladesh has set a 204-run target in the first Test match against the visiting West Indies at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.

On Saturday, in their second innings on day three, Bangladesh set a terget of 203 runs with loss of all wickets.

West Indies is now chasing 204 for victory in first Test.

West Indies:  246 & 93/8 * (24.6 ov, target 204)

Bangladesh: 324 & 125

West Indies snuffed out Bangladesh's last five wickets on the third morning, leaving themselves 204 runs to win in the fourth innings. Devendra Bishoo took three wickets in the session to finish with 4 for 26 while Roston Chase took three wickets.

The Bangladesh batsmen didn't show willingness to grind it out for the most part. Mushfiqur Rahim seemed to be in hurry right from the first over of the morning session on Saturday. He nailed a sweep off Jomel Warrican before trying a reverse sweep which went horribly wrong. Fortunately for the batsman, it went safely off his glove.

Then, for the eighth time this year, an inswingin delivery from outside off stump nailed Mushfiqur, with Gabriel's exaggerated movement sending the stumps flying.

Mahmudullah and Mehidy Hasan batted out the following 9.2 overs with only the odd alarm. Shai Hope dropped Mahmudullah when he was on 15, the chance coming off Bishoo's bowling at slip. But the legspinner followed it up in the next over with a delivery that pitched on off, took Mehidy's outside edge and settled into Shane Dowrich's gloves.

Mahmudullah and debutant Nayeem Hasan survived for long enough to take Bangladesh's lead past 200 runs before both fell in the same Bishoo over. Nayeem edged to slip before Mahmudullah, the last recognised batsman, was undone after he telegraphed his intention to sweep, to which Bishoo responded by shortening his length and getting the top edge for a comfortable catch for Hope at slip.

Bangladesh had already lost half their wickets in the hour and 15 minutes they batted on the second evening. In the second over, Jomel Warrican bowled Imrul Kayes through the gate. In the following over, Kraigg Brathwaite completed a tumbling catch at slip when Soumya Sarkar had edged a drive off Roston Chase. Mominul Haque, who made a confident 120 in the first innings, was trapped lbw by a Chase delivery that straightened after pitching on leg stump.

Shakib Al Hasan then played an ill-advised slog sweep that only reached the deep midwicket fielder, a frustrating shot from the team's captain playing only his second ball in a tough situation. After a fifth wicket stand that lasted 7.1 overs, Bishoo got one through Mohammad Mithun who didn't read the length well and was bowled.

 

Dhaka/Nov 24, 2018/Mukul