West Indies moved within touching distance of victory in the Mirpur Test, reaching 64 without loss while chasing 170 against Bangladesh before rain interrupted play on the fourth day at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The visitors still need 106 runs, with one and a half sessions remaining on the fourth day and a full day’s play still to come.
Although the rain has stopped and sunshine is peeking through over the Mirpur ground, the covers remain in place. At the time of writing, the umpires are yet to conduct an inspection.
Brandon King and John Campbell gave the visitors a flying start, taking advantage of the conditions to put on an unbeaten opening stand of 64. King was batting on 27 off 35 balls, with three fours and a six, while left-hander Campbell was unbeaten on 27 off 35 deliveries, hitting two fours and a six.
Bangladesh had an early opportunity in the opening over when Mehidy Hasan Miraz appealed for lbw against Campbell three consecutive times. The hosts reviewed one of the decisions, but Campbell survived as the verdict came back as umpire’s call.
The openers grew increasingly comfortable after that scare, finding boundaries regularly against Bangladesh’s spin attack. Despite some turn and uneven bounce on offer, the trio of Nayeem Hasan, Mehidy and Taijul Islam could not break the partnership before rain stopped play.
Bangladesh had earlier been bowled out for 142 in their second innings, setting West Indies a target of 170. Resuming the fourth day at 79/6 with a 106-run lead, the hosts added 63 runs before losing their remaining four wickets.
Nayeem led the resistance with his maiden Test half-century, scoring 52 off 91 balls with four boundaries. He reached the milestone in 87 deliveries before Roston Chase dismissed him, with Joshua Bishop taking the catch at long-on.
Jaker Ali, playing as Mominul Haque’s concussion substitute, contributed 22 off 34 balls, including two fours, in a 31-run stand with Nayeem. Jomel Warrican dismissed him, with Chase taking the catch at first slip.
Hasan Mahmud made eight before falling lbw to Warrican, while Taijul Islam scored eight off 16 balls before being trapped lbw by Chase. The latter finished with five wickets.
Bangladesh had suffered a dramatic collapse on the third day, losing six wickets after reaching 28/3. Tanzid Hasan fell for a duck, while Shadman Islam made 13 and Towhid Hridoy departed without scoring, all three falling to Chase. Najmul Hossain Shanto, who scored 10, became the off-spinner’s third victim before Litton Das and Miraz fell to Warrican.
West Indies had earlier been bowled out for 245, giving Bangladesh a 27-run first-innings lead. Nayeem claimed four wickets, including his 50th Test scalp, while Mehidy and Taijul took two each. Bangladesh had scored 272 in their first innings, with Shadman making a century.
