Shadman Islam moved closer to his third Test century as Bangladesh reached 177/3 at tea on the opening day of the first Test against West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday.
Shadman was unbeaten on 79 off 167 balls, having struck eight boundaries, as Bangladesh added 81 runs for the loss of one wicket in the 30 overs of the second session. Towhid Hridoy provided valuable support, reaching tea on 36 not out from 76 deliveries, with three fours.
Bangladesh resumed after lunch at 96/2 but lost captain Najmul Hossain Shanto in the seventh over of the session. Shanto was trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican for 19 off 42 balls while attempting a paddle sweep. He missed a fuller, flighted delivery, and although umpire Sam Nogajski initially turned down the appeal, West Indies captain Roston Chase reviewed the decision. The replay showed the ball clipping the middle and leg stumps.
Shanto’s dismissal ended a 48-run stand with Shadman, but Hridoy joined the opener to steady the innings. The pair put together an unbeaten 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket by tea, with Hridoy looking particularly assured against the West Indies spinners.
Shadman, who was 42 not out at lunch, brought up his 10th Test half-century through patient batting. He left deliveries outside off stump and ducked under short balls from the Caribbean pacers, while also negotiating the turn and uneven bounce on offer from the Mirpur surface.
Earlier, Bangladesh lost opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim for seven off 23 balls, edging Jayden Seales to Justin Greaves at second slip. Mominul Haque then added 59 runs with Shadman before falling for 28 off 51 balls, caught by Shamar Joseph at mid-off while attempting to loft Warrican over the infield.
Mominul’s innings also saw him become the third Bangladeshi batter to reach 11,000 first-class runs, joining Tushar Imran and Naeem Islam.
