Bangladesh squander chance to seize control of 1st Test

Dhaka, 30 Oct - A yet another reckless batting show cost Bangladesh dearly as they failed to establish complete control of the first cricket Test against West Indies at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

Paying the price of their wayward batting, Bangladesh slumped to 79-6 at stumps on Day 3, which was curtailed again by bad light, extending its lead only to 105 runs.

But with the pitch still offering plenty of turn and bounce for the spinners, Bangladesh still can hope a target beyond 150 could give them an edge.

After bowling out West Indies for 245 and taking 27 runs first innings lead, Bangladesh fell into the trap of West Indies spinners.

The initial blow came from pacer Shamar Joseph who dismissed Taznid Hasan Tamim for duck in the second over Bangladesh's second innings.

Left-spinner Jomel Warrican and Captain Roston Chase, an off-spinner, got into the act immediately after the dismissal of Tanzid.

Chase removed Shadman Islam, the centurion of the first innings, for 13 and Towhid Hridoy (2) in three balls before getting rid of his opposite number Najmul Hossain Shanto for 10.

Warrican, who claimed five wickets in the Bangladesh's first innings, sent back Liton, trapping him lbw for 4, leaving Bangladesh at 35-5.

He also broke the brief resistance of Mehidy Hasan Miraz by rattling his stump on 9 as Bangladesh were reduced to 53-6.

Jaker Ali Anik, who came as a concussion sub of Mominul Haque after the batter hit on his head during the fielding at short leg, was batting on 18 with Nayeem Hasan also on 18 when day's play was called off.

Resuming at 134-4, Tagnarine Chanderpaul's assured presence in the crease alongside Justin Greaves appeared to give West Indies a full control of the game.

But offspinner Nayeem Hasan claimed 4-33 to play a key role in bowling out West Indies for 245.

Chanderpaul's stubbornness in a spin-favourable wicket rewarded him with his third half-century in the Test cricket from 164 balls when he flicked Taijul Islam for a single.

However, soon after reaching a laborious 50, he edged a delivery off pacer Shoriful Islam to second slip, ending a 65-run partnership with Greaves for the fifth wicket.

Chanderpaul played 184 balls for 56 runs that included six fours and one six.

Graves and skipper Roston Chase looked solid in the crease after Chanderpaul's departure as they took the side past 200 runs.

Nayeem dismissed Greaves for 46 before taking the wicket of Shamar Joseph and Jomel Warrican to confirm Bangladesh's lead in the first innings. Chase was stranded on 43.  Bangladesh were bowled out for 272 in its first innings.BSS