West Indies took firm control of the second Test against Bangladesh as Kavem Hodge struck an unbeaten century to help the visitors finish the fourth day on 345-3 in Sylhet on Sunday.
The Caribbean side ended the day with a lead of 315 runs and seven wickets in hand. Hodge remained unbeaten on 140 off 189 balls, with 17 fours and a six, while Amir Jangoo was on 20.
West Indies added 86 runs in the final session and lost only one wicket. Taijul Islam removed Kevin Wickham for 78, ending his 159-run partnership with Hodge.
Wickham continued his fine start to Test cricket with another half-century on debut. He faced 107 deliveries and struck seven fours and two sixes.
Hodge and Jangoo then added an unbeaten 61 runs for the fourth wicket to take West Indies safely to stumps.
Earlier, Bangladesh failed to take a wicket in the second session. Hodge and Wickham scored 131 runs in 29 overs as West Indies reached 259-2 at tea.
The visitors had started the day on 7-0, trailing by 23 runs. Brandon King and Joshua Da Silva added 85 runs for the opening wicket before Taijul trapped Da Silva lbw for 36.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz then dismissed King for 61. The opener had survived a chance on 56 when Towhid Hridoy dropped him at short cover.
Bangladesh struggled to create further chances as the pitch offered little help to the bowlers. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto tried all five bowlers but could not stop the visitors from building a big lead.
Taijul was the most successful bowler with two wickets for 118 runs, while Miraz took one for 58.
Bangladesh had earlier scored 386 in their first innings, thanks to Hridoy’s record unbeaten 242, after West Indies made 356.
With West Indies already leading the series 1-0, Bangladesh now face a tough challenge on the final day to save the Test and avoid a series defeat.
