Taskin Ahmed took two wickets in his opening spell as West Indies slipped to 41 for three in the first hour of the second Test in Sylhet. Hasan Mahmud claimed the other wicket as Bangladesh’s pace attack made an early impact at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
West Indies began with a new opening pair of Joshua Da Silva and Brandon King. Da Silva, opening the innings for the first time in his career, was given an early reprieve when Shadman Islam failed to hold on to an edge at second slip off Hasan in the second over.
Taskin, who returned to the side in place of Shoriful Islam, provided the breakthrough by rattling King’s leg and middle stumps with an inswinger. The West Indies opener misjudged the line and departed for a duck, having struck an unbeaten 81 in the first Test in Mirpur.
Hasan then removed Kavem Hodge with another inswinger. Hodge left a good-length delivery outside off, only to see the ball crash into his middle stump. He made one off 10 balls.
Taskin completed his double strike by trapping Da Silva lbw with a delivery that angled into the right-hander. The batter, who had survived an early chance on nought, did not opt for a review and departed for 12 off 17 balls.
Bangladesh went into the series decider with two specialist fast bowlers and three spinners. Mushfiqur Rahim also returned to the playing XI in place of the concussed Mominul Haque.
