The third day of the first Test between Bangladesh and the West Indies proved the saying - morning shows the day - as plethora of wickets fell in the day, initiated by one falling off the very first delivery.
Bangladesh got a 171-run first innings lead and despite losing early wickets in the second innings, ended the day on 47/3 to stretch it to 218 that put them in a vantage position on stumps at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Friday.
Mehedi Hasan Miraz continued his mojo as he grabbed four wickets with the ball following his century with the bat the previous day, but it was Taijul Islam who provided the best possible start for the hosts.
Taijul pitched the ball just outside the off-stump and produced a sharp turn to induce an edge off overnight batsman Nkrumah Bonner for an easy first slip catch to Nazmul Hossain Shanto.
Other overnight batsman Kraigg Brathwaite tried to steady the ship with Kyle Mayers and added 55 for the fourth wicket before he was bowled for 76 off tall off-spinner Nayeem Hasan’s sharp incoming delivery that went through his legs before disturbing the timbers.
Mayers became the first victim of Miraz when he was adjudged leg before for 40 to leave his side on 154/5.
Kraigg Brathwaite's defence is rattled by Nayeem Hasan, bringing an end to his 76-run innings AFP
The replay showed the ball brushed his bat before hitting the pad but the batsman and the runner hesitated to take a review that ensured hosts enjoyed a successful morning session.
However, the highlight of the day was tumultuous seven overs that took place on both sides of the tea interval as seven wickets fell in that brief period.
It all started when Joshua da Silva, who looked well set on the wicket, got out in the third ball of the 93rd over after he lazily tried to poke the Nayeem delivery only to find the edge that was caught easily by wicket-keeper Liton Das.
That wicket not only broke the 99-run stand but also initiated a complete collapse of the visitors just an over before the tea break.
After the fall of Da Silva, who made 42, his long-time sixth-wicket partner Blackwood was also dismissed four balls later.
Miraz, bowling from over the wicket, drifted the first ball of the 94th over down the leg side of right-handed batsman Blackwood, who, on 68, nudged the ball to Liton while trying to play a cross-batted shot and the visitors were reduced to 253/7.
Joshua da Silva departs for 42 to spark a dramatic Windies collapse that saw five wickets fall for just six runs AFP
After a 20-minute tea break the West Indies ship was completely wrecked as they lost remaining three wickets for six more runs in 18 balls conceding a comprehensive lead.
But the big-built Rahkeem Cornwall brought back some smiles in their faces as he got rid of both the Bangladeshi openers in their second innings in his very first over, the second one of the innings.
The off-spinner bowled a straight one over the wicket to the left-handed Tamim, who missed it completely, and was adjudged leg before.
Tamim, who scored only nine in the first innings, went for a futile review and registered his 33rd duck across all formats, equaling the record of Mashrafe bin Mortaza.
Shanto followed the senior batsman as he hung his bat casually against a wide delivery two balls later to get dismissed for a duck.
Bangladesh were in some sort of awkward situation and especially the potential absence of Shakib al Hasan, who did not come to the field on the day after sustaining an injury, the anxiety would have increased but captain Mominul Haque tried to weather the storm.
Shadman Islam also did a crucial job as he faced 42 balls to halt the avalanche of wickets and added 32 with his skipper before getting caught behind by Da Silva off Shannon Gabriel for five.
Mominul was not out on 31 and experienced Mushfiqur Rahim was on 10 as the hosts will look forward to pile up a big lead on the fourth day.
1ST TEST, DAY 3
BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS 430 in 150.2 OVERS (Miraz 103, Warrican 4/133)
WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS OVERNIGHT 75/2 IN 29 OVERS R B
Brathwaite b Nayeem 76 111
Bonner c Shanto b Taijul 17 59
Mayers lbw b Miraz 40 65
Blackwood c Liton b Miraz 68 146
Da Silva c Liton b Nayeem 42 141
Cornwall b Miraz 2 6
Roach c sub (Mithun) b Miraz 0 3
Warrican b Taijul 4 7
Gabriel not out 0 5
Extras (lb 1, nb 4) 5
Total (96.1 Ov, RR: 2.69) 259
Fall Of Wickets
3-75 (Bonner), 4-130 (Brathwaite), 5-154 (Mayers), 6-253 (Da Silva), 7-253 (Blackwood), 8-253 (Roach), 9-259 (Cornwall), 10-259 (Warrican)
Bowling
Mustafizur 15-4-46-2, Shakib 6-1-16-0, Miraz 26-9-58-4, Taijul 33.1-11-84-2, Nayeem 16-1-54-2,
BANGLADESH 2ND INNINGS R B
Shadman c Da Silva b Gabriel 5 42
Tamim lbw b Cornwall 0 4
Shanto c Blackwood b Cornwall 0 2
Mominul not out 31 50
Mushfiq not out 10 23
Extras (nb 1) 1
Total (20 Ov, RR: 2.35) 47/3
Fall Of Wickets
1-1 (Tamim), 2-1 (Shanto), 3-33 (Shadman)
Bowling
Roach 4-1-5-0, Cornwall 9-1-28-2, Gabriel 6-0-13-1, Warrican 1-0-1-0
Bangladesh lead by 218 runs
