West Indies moved into a 98-run lead against Bangladesh on the fourth day of the Sylhet Test after Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked up a wicket apiece before lunch on Sunday. Starting the day at seven without loss, with a deficit of 23 runs, the visitors reached 128-2 at the interval.
Openers Brandon King and Joshua Da Silva looked comfortable from the outset, playing their strokes freely as the pitch appeared to have flattened out compared to the previous day. The moisture and movement that had troubled the batters earlier offered little assistance, allowing the pair to score freely.
They added 81 runs before Taijul broke the stand by trapping Da Silva lbw for 36. Bowling from around the wicket, Taijul delivered a fullish ball that pitched on middle and off and moved in with the angle. Da Silva took a small stride forward and attempted to defend, seemingly playing for turn away from him, but the ball held its line and struck him on the front shin in front of middle.
Taijul also had a chance to dismiss King on 56, but Towhid Hridoy put down a catch at short cover. King added only five more runs before Miraz dismissed him ahead of lunch. King, who made 61 off 84 balls, including 10 fours and a six, attempted to defend an angling delivery with an open face but could not keep it out.
Kavem Hodge was unbeaten on 30 at the break, with Kevin Wickham yet to get off the mark.
Earlier, Bangladesh secured a 30-run first-innings lead after Hridoy’s record-breaking unbeaten 242 helped them reach 386 in reply to West Indies’ 356.
