West Indies fought back in the opening session of the second Test in Sylhet after losing three wickets in the first hour. Debutant Kevin Wickham and Amir Jangoo steadied the innings with an unbeaten 59-run partnership for the fourth wicket, taking the visitors to 86 for three at lunch after 26 overs.
Taskin Ahmed struck twice and Hasan Mahmud claimed one wicket to reduce West Indies to 41 for three. The Bangladesh pacers made good use of the new ball in the morning conditions, bowling in tandem for 11 overs.
After the early damage, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto introduced spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam from either end. However, once the new ball lost its shine, the West Indies middle-order batters found it easier to score.
Wickham and Jangoo survived 106 deliveries to take West Indies safely to lunch. Wickham, who will resume on 27, also had a close call in the 19th over when an edge off Hasan flew past Shadman Islam at second slip.
Shadman had earlier dropped a regulation chance off Joshua Da Silva in the second over. The West Indies wicketkeeper-batter, however, could not make the most of the reprieve, as Taskin trapped him lbw for 12 off 17 balls. Da Silva did not opt for a review.
Taskin, who returned to the side in place of Shoriful Islam, had earlier provided Bangladesh with the first breakthrough by rattling Brandon King’s leg and middle stumps with an inswinger. The opener misjudged the line and departed for a duck, having scored 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.
