It was a fascinating contest between host Bangladesh and the visitor West Indies as the Tigers finished day one posting 315 runs losing eight wickets in 88 overs in the first Test match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Thursday.
Riding on a brilliant century from No 3 batsman Mominul Haque, Bangladesh were cruising at tea, scoring 216 for the loss of three wickets in 58 overs.
But a superb spell of fast bowling by Windies right-arm pacer Shannon Gabriel led to a batting collapse and had Bangladesh reduced to 235 for seven from 222 for three.
Regular Test captain Shakib al Hasan made a comeback from injury, and he won the toss and elected to bat first.
Bangladesh made three changes to their playing XI from the last Test against Zimbabwe at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka earlier this month.
Opener Soumya Sarkar, Shakib and debutant off-spinner Nayeem Hasan came in to the playing XI replacing opening batsman Liton Das, all-rounder Ariful Haque and seamer Khaled Ahmed.
Mominul Haque reaches his fourth Test ? of 2018, level with Virat Kohli for the most hundreds this year... (no other batsman has hit more than two tons)https://t.co/ynt9JOMi15 #BANvWI pic.twitter.com/D4wgh16IRq
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 22, 2018
Bangladesh made a terrible start as they lost their first wicket in the very first over.
Soumya faced only one ball before edging the second one to the wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich against an out-swinger by West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach.
But the in-form Mominul took charge and formed a well-crafted 104-run partnership with opener Imrul Kayes in the first session of the day.
Imrul scored 44 off 87 balls before losing his wicket just minutes before lunch.
The left-hander was lucky on two occasions as his catch was dropped at first slip during the fifth over and later, he was caught at deep mid-wicket off a no-ball.
No 4 batsman Mohammad Mithun also lost his wicket to a casual shot after scoring 20 off 50 balls.
Bangladesh close the first day of their Test against the Windies on 315/8!
— ICC (@ICC) November 22, 2018
Mominul Haque scored a fluent 120, his eighth Test century, while Shannon Gabriel took four wickets for the visitors.#BANvWI 1st Test live ?https://t.co/Qi3JVtpIr2 pic.twitter.com/PH8OEUsoxi
But Mominul was batting well at the other end, and picked up his eighth Test century in the 50th over of the innings.
This was Mominul’s sixth Test hundred at ZACS.
After the first two sessions, Bangladesh went to tea with Mominul and Shakib well-set at the crease.
But in the post-tea session, Gabriel bowled a magnificent spell and took four wickets in as many overs.
First, Gabriel took the important wicket of Mominul in the third ball of the 60th over.
Mominul’s superb knock ended on 120 off 167 balls with 10 fours and one six.
Mominul Haque and Virat Kohli have the most Test centuries in 2018 so far. #BANvWI pic.twitter.com/Q2geVopyV5
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) November 22, 2018
Just three balls later, Gabriel trapped wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim (four) in front, and he was given out by the TV umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge after the Windies reviewed the original on-field not out decision.
Later, Mahmudullah (three) and Shakib (34 off 68 balls) were cleaned up by Gabriel in his next two overs.
But from then, the Bangladesh tail-enders resisted a further collapse and scored runs for their team, which could prove vital in the game’s context.
Youngster Mehedi Hasan Miraz scored 22 before being bowled, but Nayeem (24 off 60 balls) and No 10 batsman Taijul Islam (32 off 57) were unbeaten and formed a crucial 56-run partnership for the ninth wicket before the close of the day’s play.
Gabriel was the best bowler for the West Indies with four wickets, while spinner Jomel Warrican took two wickets.
1ST TEST, DAY 1
BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS R B
Imrul c Ambris b Warrican 44 87
Soumya c Dowrich b Roach 0 2
Mominul c Dowrich b Gabriel 120 167
Mithun c Dowrich b Bishoo 20 50
Shakib b Gabriel 34 68
Mushfiq lbw b Gabriel 4 3
Mahmudullah b Gabriel 3 7
Miraz b Warrican 22 31
Nayeem Not out 24 60
Taijul not out 32 57
Extras (b 3, lb 5, nb 4) 12
Total (88 Overs) 315/8
Fall Of Wickets
1-1 (Soumya), 2-105 (Imrul), 3-153 (Mithun), 4-222 (Mominul), 5-226 (Mushfiq), 6-230 (Mahmudullah), 7-235 (Shakib), 8-259 (Miraz)
Bowling
Roach 15-2-55-1, Gabriel 18-2-69-4, Chase 11-0-42-0, Warrican 21-6-62-2, Bishoo 15-0-60-1, Brathwaite 8-1-19-0
