Host Bangladesh post 259 runs on the scoreboard for the loss of five wickets against the West Indies on day one of their second and final Test match of the series in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Friday.
Tigers skipper Shakib al Hasan chose to bat as the home side made the surprising call to pick an all-out spin attack.
Bangladesh made two changes from their previous Test as left-handed batsman Shadman Islam made his debut, replacing opener Imrul Kayes and wicketkeeper-batter Liton Das replaced pacer Mustafizur Rahman.
This is the first time Bangladesh are playing without a genuine pacer in the starting XI in their 18 years of Test history.
Opening batsmen Shadman and Soumya Sarkar provided Bangladesh a good start.
After getting set, Soumya lost his wicket in the 16th over chasing a flighted delivery from spinner Roston Chase.
Middle-order batsman @mushfiqur15 has become the second Bangladeshi to cross the 4000-run mark in Tests.https://t.co/HHE1lMy2ID#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #CRICKET #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHCRICKET #MUSHFIQURRAHIM #MUSHFIQ #RAHIM #MUSHFIQUR #WINDIES #CWI #WESTINDIES #WEST #INDIES
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 30, 2018
The left-hander scored 19 off 42 balls.
In-form Mominul Haque and Shadman played confidently and formed a 45-run partnership for the second wicket.
Just when things were looking good for Bangladesh, Mominul lost his wicket in the last over before lunch playing a poor shot.
The southpaw departed for 29 off 46 balls with two boundaries.
Middle-order batsman Mohammad Mithun came out in the middle at No 4 and yet again, gave his wicket away after being well set.
After forming a 64-run partnership, Mithun tried to pull a fuller length googly from leggie Devendra Bishoo, but missed it completely as his wickets were rattled.
Debutant Shadman Islam played a solid innings on Test debut as the 23- year left hander scored 76 off 199 balls before being adjudged leg before wicket against Devendra Bishoo in the fifth delivery of the 59th overhttps://t.co/TwylgphXn0#SHADMANISLAM #SHADMAN #ISLAM #BCBTIGERS
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 30, 2018
Another promising innings ended for Mithun as he was out for 29 off 61 deliveries.
Debutant Shadman was the next man to go as he was trapped in front against Bishoo.
The left-hander played a superb knock of 76.
He played the most number of deliveries (199) as an opening batsman for Bangladesh on debut.
Shadman’s brilliant innings was composed with half a dozen boundaries.
Shakib and No 6 batsman Mushfiqur Rahim then formed a small 29-run fifth-wicket stand before Mushfiq (14 off 24 balls) was cleaned up by seamer Shermon Lewis.
@BCBtigers captain @Sah75official played a good innings and remained not out at stumps of day one.https://t.co/PgxeezPB26#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #CRICKET #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHCRICKET #SHAKIBALHASAN #SHAKIB #AL #HASAN #SHAKIBAL #SHAKIBHASAN #ALHASAN #WESTINDIES #WINDIES #CWI
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 30, 2018
During his 14-run knock, Mushfiq crossed the landmark of 4,000 Test runs, becoming the second Bangladeshi to achieve the feat.
Mushfiq’s total runs in Tests now read 4,006 after 123 innings, and 66 Tests.
Only Tamim Iqbal is ahead of him in the list with 4,049 runs in 108 innings, and 56 Tests.
No 7 batsman Mahmudullah and Shakib then added 69 unbroken runs.
Shakib registered his 24th Test fifty along the way, and finished the day unbeaten on 55 off 113 deliveries with just one four.
Mahmudullah was batting on 31 off 59 balls at the other end.
West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo informed that they should have taken more wickets on day one and put pressure on the Bangladesh batting.https://t.co/ucZz0YnLXu#BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKET #WESTINDIES #WESTINDIESCRICKET #WINDIES #CWI #BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 30, 2018
With two experienced well-set batsmen at the crease and Liton and youngster Mehedi Hasan Miraz still to come, Bangladesh will be eying a big first-innings total, which could prove to be game changing on such a slow wicket.
The first session on day two will be important considering the course of the match as both teams will try to turn the game their way.
2ND TEST, DAY 1
BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS R B
Shadman lbw b Bishoo 76 199
Soumya c Hope b Chase 19 42
Mominul c Chase b Roach 29 46
Mithun b Bishoo 29 61
Shakib not out 55 113
Mushfiq b Lewis 14 24
Mahmudullah not out 31 59
Extras (lb 2, nb 4) 6
Total (90 Overs) 259/5
Fall Of Wickets
1-42 (Soumya), 2-87 (Mominul), 3-151 (Mithun), 4-161 (Shadman), 5-190 (Mushfiq)
Bowling
Roach 15-1-38-1, Lewis 12-1-35-1, Chase 21-0-61-1, Warrican 19-2-46-0, Bishoo 19-1-69-2, Brathwaite 4-0-8-0