It was another sad tale with the bat for the Tigers in their second innings on the third day of the first Test match against the Windies at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua as the home side bowled Bangladesh out for 144 and won by an innings and 129 runs.
With the Windies posting a massive 406 thanks to a century from Kraigg Brathwaite and fifties from Devon Smith and Shai Hope, a big defeat was always looming.
Tamim Iqbal tried to take the attack to the Windies bowlers but played one shot too many as he was caught at gully, driving against a fuller than good length delivery with the ball swinging away after pitching.
Mominul Haque would be Shannon Gabriel’s next victim in the same over as he got a length ball pitched on off stump to stay low and breach Mominul’s defences. He departed for a duck.
Windies captain Jason Holder would get in among the wickets as he had Liton Das caught by the first slip fielder, Brathwaite. An inswinging length delivery squared Liton up and took the outside edge of his bat. The score was 16 for three.
Bangladesh lost the first Test by innings and 219 runs. #BANvWI pic.twitter.com/GDS5KToCzM
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) July 6, 2018
Mushfiqur Rahim and captain Shakib al Hasan would try to steady things with some positive shots but that ended in the 10th over as Mushfiq was cleaned up by a good length delivery that jagged in at pace by Gabriel.
Shakib would be Gabriel’s fourth scalp as he was caught by third slip fielder, Holder, with a brilliant length delivery that swung away after shaping in.
Mehedi Hasan Miraz would be the last wicket to fall on the third session of day two with the scoreboard reading 50. Holder bowled another outswinger on the fourth stump corridor and got Miraz to nick it to wicket-keeper Shane Dowrich.
Mahmudullah lasted just two deliveries in the first session of day three before being caught by third slip fielder Roston Chase to yet another excellent delivery by the Windies captain.
Bangladesh were in danger of being bowled out for less than 100 for the second innings in a row when Gabriel had his fifth by shattering the timber of Kamrul Islam Rabbi for seven, with the score on 88 for eight.
There were two five-wickets haul in this comprehensive inning and 219 runs by WINDIES over Bangladesh - well done @KemarAJR & #ShannonGabriel pic.twitter.com/eR1ASSNysw
— WINDIES (@westindies) July 6, 2018
But then Nurul Hasan showed fight with some aggressive shots against the Windies fast bowling and scored an enterprising half century. He along with Rubel Hossain took the score past the three figure mark before Nurul became the victim of an excellent overhead reflex catch by Miguel Cummins for his first wicket of the second innings. Rubel would be the last man out, trying to slog Cummins but missing and having his middle stump uprooted.
After the match, Shakib said: “Very tough for us. But I think there are a lot of areas we need to work on. We were beaten in all three departments. We need to prepare ourselves in the next five days. Adapting to these conditions is not easy; we're not used to this. Nurul batted really well. Credit to him. [Abu] Jayed was impressive in his debut. He showed his character and can be a great prospect for Bangladesh.”
Kemar Roach was adjudged man of the match for his five-for in the first innings.
The second and final Test begins Thursday in Jamaica.
