Runs were hard to come by on the Mirpur wicket as Bangladesh managed just 207 in 49.4 overs in their first innings against West Indies.
Former curator Gamini de Silva had long been criticised for the slow surface, and his successor, English curator Tony Hemming, was unable to alter its characteristics. Bangladesh’s batsmen found the pitch challenging, while the spinners extracted significant turn, putting the batters under pressure. Amid the struggle, Towhid Hridoy played a composed innings, anchoring one end and guiding Bangladesh to the 200-run mark with a well-taken fifty.
After losing the toss, Bangladesh batted first and were all out for 207 in 49.4 overs. Hridoy top-scored with 51, while debutant Mahidul Islam Ankon added 46.
The innings began positively, with seven runs including a boundary in the first over, but early wickets quickly stalled momentum. Saif Hassan was dismissed LBW for three in the second over, and Soumya Sarkar fell in the following over, caught at backward point by Roston Chase while attempting an ambitious shot.
At 8 for 2, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Hridoy stabilised the innings with a 71-run partnership. Shanto was out for 32, but Hridoy carried on, reaching his fifty off 87 balls and finishing on 51 from 90 deliveries.
Ankon then held one end, scoring 46 from 76 balls before being bowled by Chase in the 46th over while attempting a slog sweep. In the closing overs, Rishad Hossain struck aggressively, hitting a four and two sixes to contribute 26 off 13 balls, helping Bangladesh reach 207 before being dismissed.
