Brathwaite, Bonner resist for West Indies after maiden Miraz ton

CHATTOGRAM   – At the end of the second day of the first Test between Bangladesh and West Indies, the teams were evenly poised, with the visitors reaching 75/2, a deficit of 355.

Bangladesh had resumed the morning on 242/5, but an early wicket left them reeling. However, faced with the danger of being bowled out for a sub-par total, 23-year-old all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz chose an opportune moment to score his maiden Test century, lifting the home side to 430. West Indies were then troubled by Mustafizur Rahman, losing two wickets early, but Kraigg Brathwaite and Nkrumah Bonner helped revive the innings, eating into Bangladesh’s lead before the stumps were drawn.

The day didn’t start well for Bangladesh, though. Liton, who had scored a relatively quick 34* late on the first day, managed to add just four runs to his overnight total before becoming Jomel Warrican’s fourth wicket of the innings. Thereater, it was down to building partnerships. Shakib Al Hasan carried on from his overnight 39* to bring up his 25th half-century in Test cricket, his runs helping Miraz settle at the other end. The duo put on 67 runs for the seventh wicket, helping take Bangladesh past the 300-run mark.

However, when Rahkeem Cornwall had Shakib dismissed, with one that bounced a tad extra, Bangladesh seemed in trouble. Without Shakib, Miraz was left to bat with the lower order to boost the total, but to their credit, they more than delivered. Miraz rode his luck, having been dropped when on 24 and then on 85. He put on 44 runs with Taijul Islam for the eighth wicket, and went one better with Nayeem Hasan, putting on 57 for the ninth. Mustafizur then hung around to help him reach the coveted three-figure mark, and the innings came to an end when Miraz, on 103, holed out to long on, attempting quick runs. His knock had helped Bangladesh to a strong position. 

West Indies’ problems compounded thereafter, when they lost quick wickets. Mustafizur was in fine zip, trapping John Campbell in front off one that came in from a length. In the 11th over, he struck again, this time with a yorker, rapping Sheyne Moseley on the pads. West Indies were 24/2, and risked encountering a slide. However, Brathwaite and Bonner associated well. Brathwaite played the more aggressive knock, striking at over 60, even as Bonner sealed up the other end. Their 51-run unbroken stand helped West Indies cut the deficit by 75 runs in the final session, making for a potentially exciting day three.

BRIEFS SCORES

WEST INDIES 75 for 2 (Brathwaite 49*, Rahman 2-18) trail BANGLADESH 430 (Miraz 103, Shakib 68, Shadman 59, Warrican 4-133) by 355 runs.