Bangladesh rally to 278/7

CASTRIES: Bangladesh cricket captain Habibul Bashar smacked a 113 against the West Indies yesterday as his team enjoyed a solid first day in the opening Test of the series at Beausejour Stadium. Mohammad Ashraful chipped in with an unbeaten 65 as the lowly-ranked visitors closed at 278 for seven after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Bangladesh would have been disappointed after reaching 227 for three at one stage. But the home team fought back in the lengthy final session through their slow bowlers.

Leg-spinner Ramnaresh Sarwan (two for 20) and off-spinner Chris Gayle (one for 31) provided key breakthroughs. Left-arm seamer Pedro Collins took three for 75 off 20 overs to earn the best West Indian figures. Collins provided an instant spark with a wicket off the first delivery of the Test. Opener Hannan Sarkar played no stroke to a big inswinger and umpire Jeremy Lloyds, officiating in his first Test, gave a clear-cut leg before decision.  But Bangladesh quickly recovered Bashar and Omar built a rousing partnership. The pair lunched at 101 for one, with Bashar on 65 and Omar on 27.

Omar perished shortly after the break after striking four fours off 92 balls. He sliced a drive at Collins and provided a catch to Devon Smith at gully. He and Bashar added 121 for the second wicket in just over two hours. Rajin Saleh provided further level-headed support for his skipper, who brought up his third Test century off 116 balls with a pull to fine leg.  Bashar favoured the pull stroke throughout his knock and it accounted for more than half of his 15 boundaries. It also eventually caused his downfall. Bashar was caught at deep square leg off Jermaine Lawson at 171 for three after an early tea was taken because of brief rainfall.

Bashar is the only Bangladeshi to have played all 29 of the team’s Test matches and he now has half of the six centuries to have been scored by his team. The 31-year-old’s innings spanned 131 balls and lasted 198 minutes. Rajin and Ashraful continued to defy the home team by adding 56 in an hour and a quarter before a freak dismissal lifted the West Indians mood and sparked a slide. Rajin compiled an accomplished 26 off 89 balls before wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs spectacularly snapped up a rebound off silly point as the batsman drove at leg-spinner Sarwan. 

Soon, Collins claimed Foysal Hossain to a catch at mid-on off a slower delivery and the middle order collapsed. Mushfiqur Rahman edged a cut at a very wide Sarwan leg-break and Khaled Mashud was stumped off Gayle’s arm ball. Four wickets had fallen for 23 runs before Ashraful and Mohammad Rafique shared an unbroken stand of 28 towards the end. The West Indies took the second new ball but could not break the defiant partnership. Left-hander Rafique ended on 17 not out. The second and final Test of the series begins in Jamaica on June 4. (AP)