Opener Shadman Islam hit an unbeaten 99 to steer Bangladesh to 213-3 on the opening day of the first Test against West Indies on Wednesday.
The left-hander was on the verge of his third Test century when bad light ended play after 74 overs at the start of the two-match series in Mirpur. Shadman hit 10 fours in his 219-ball stay, with Litton Das on 10 not out.
Shadman and Hridoy steady the innings
Bangladesh batting coach Mohammad Salahuddin admitted the tension in the dressing room as the opener approached three figures. “It was nerve-racking even for us. At the end of the day, the whole team was nervous because everyone wanted him to get to his hundred,” he said.
Salahuddin also pointed to Shadman’s record. “He has played around 30 (32) Test matches but has only two centuries, and I think that number should have been higher.”
Towhid Hridoy retired hurt on 42 with cramps, after he and Shadman added 88 runs for the fourth wicket to steady the Bangladesh innings. Hridoy had come into the side in place of the injured Mushfiqur Rahim. He suffered the cramps as he approached his maiden Test fifty and was helped off the field.
Shadman brought up his half-century off 95 balls. He and Hridoy batted through the afternoon session to take Bangladesh to 177-3 at the tea break.
West Indies strike through Warrican
West Indies struck early when in-form opener Tanzid Hasan edged Jayden Seales to second slip for nine. Mominul Haque added 28 before falling to the left-arm spin of Jomel Warrican.
Shadman guided Bangladesh to lunch at 96-2. Shortly after the break, Warrican struck again, trapping Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw for 19. Warrican finished as the pick of the West Indies bowlers with figures of 2-33.
Warrican was content with the day’s work but wanted more. “Ideally, I would want one more wicket, but we have control of the game. The game never got away from us,” he said.
“We were very disciplined as a bowling group. Even if you’re not getting wickets, you try to be as disciplined as possible. That’s the key, which we did very well. But ideally, we wanted at least one or two more wickets today.”
Bad light ends play
Bad light interrupted play for an hour after Hridoy’s departure. The umpires then called off play for the day after a short resumption, leaving Bangladesh well placed at 213-3 with Shadman still at the crease.
Squads
Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam.
West Indies: Jonathan Campbell, Brandon King, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo, Roston Chase (capt), Justin Greaves, Joshua Bishop, Shamar Joseph, Jomel Warrican, Jayden Seales.