Three wickets in the afternoon session gave Bangladesh hope as the West Indies scored 41 for three at stumps on day three in their second and final Test match in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Saturday.
The Windies started their second innings with a healthy 113-run lead after Bangladesh were bowled out for 296 in their first innings.
Later, the Caribbean batsmen were under pressure early as they lost skipper Kraigg Brathwaite in the fourth over of the innings.
It was a turning delivery from off-spinner Nayeem Hassan and Brathwaite chased the ball only to manage a faint brush off his glove which was caught sharply by wicket-keeper Liton Das.
No 3 batsman Shayne Moseley scored only seven runs before getting out as another off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz provided the important strike in the ninth over.
With this wicket, Miraz achieved the 100-wicket milestone in his Test career.
He is the quickest Bangladeshi to achieve the feat in 24 matches, while second in the lost Taijul lslam did it in 25.
Opener John Campbell and Nkrumah Bonner then batted cautiously against the Bangladesh spin trio with the aim of not losing any wicket before the close of day’s play.
Liton Das plays a shot en route to his seventh Test half century AFP
But this time left-arm spinner Taijul Islam joined the party as Campbell (18) played on with four more overs remaining.
It will be a crucial morning session for both the teams as the match is still hanging in the balance, perhaps the Windies are slightly ahead.
Earlier, Bangladesh started day two on the backfoot as they resumed on 105/4.
Mohammad Mithun got out in the first hour after a battling 15-run innings off 86 deliveries.
But after doing all the hard work, Bangladesh hoped Mithun would have carried on.
The dismissal of Mushfiqur Rahim was much more disappointing, and unbecoming of a senior batsman like him.
Just after reaching his 22nd Test half-century, Mushfiq played a risky shot against off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall in the first delivery of the 50th over, which eventually went for a boundary.
Surprisingly, off the very next ball Mushfiq tried to play an audacious reverse sweep against the spinner for another boundary.
Miraz had to be patient in pursuit of his third Test fifty AFP
But only a top edge from that outrageous shot ensued and Kyle Mayers took a dolly at short cover.
Certainly not a good looking way to get out when your team are in dire straits, particularly not from an experienced and solid batsman like Mushfiq.
Bangladesh went to lunch on 181/6 with Liton Kumar Das and Mehedi Hasan Miraz on the crease.
The second session of the day well and truly belonged to Bangladesh as 91 runs came from that session without any wicket.
Liton and Miraz formed a crucial 126-run partnership for the seventh wicket before Liton got out.
Liton scored 71 off 133 deliveries with seven boundaries before losing his wicket to Cornwall.
In the very next over Miraz also went back to the pavilion after scoring 57 off 140 deliveries with six boundaries.
Bangladesh tail was wrapped up soon after as they eventually limped their way to 296.
Cornwall was the star with the ball as the off-spinner took five wickets, second five-for in his Test career, conceding just 74 runs in his 32 overs.
