KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Nahid Rana’s first-ever five-wicket Test haul, backed by some resolute batting, has put Bangladesh in firm control of the second Test at the end of the third day here at Sabina Park on Monday.
Nana ran through the home side’s top and lower order on his way to finishing with 5-61, as West Indies, who resumed the day in the ascendancy at 70 for one, were bundled out for a paltry 146.
Bangladesh’s batters then mixed aggression with stern defense to end on 193 for five, an overall lead of 211, heading into Tuesday’s penultimate day.
The West Indies will likely have to complete a record-run chase. The highest successful run chase at Sabina Park was 212, which the home side scored against Sri Lanka back in 2003 to win by seven wickets.
The Windies began the day hoping to overhaul the visitors’ total and establish a handy first innings lead.
Captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Keacy Carty added another 15 runs to extend their second-wicket partnership to 60 before Nana triggered an unexpected collapse that saw the home side lose nine wickets for 61 runs.
With the Windies coasting on 85 for one, Nana choked Brathwaite with a quick 142kph delivery into his body that the skipper could only fend to gully, where substitute fielder Zakir Hasan took a good catch diving to his right to dismiss him for 39.
Kavem Hodge scored just three before he was spectacularly caught by wicketkeeper Litton Das, who changed direction to hold on to a one-handed catch after Nana deceived the batsman with an inswinger to leave the Windies 94 for three.
Alick Athanaze was bowled by pacer Taskin Ahmed off an inside edge for three, Justin Greaves was bowled through the gap by spinner Taijul Islam for two, and Joshua DaSilva was trapped plumb in front by Hasan Mahmud for just five to see the Windies crumble to 114 for six.
Mahmud also accounted for the wicket of topscorer Carty for 40, and Nana returned to dismiss Alzarri Joseph as the West Indies limped to lunch at 135 for eight.
On resumption, Nana struck Kemar Roach on the shoulder with a short delivery that would affect his ability to bowl, and he fittingly ended the innings by having him lbw after Mehidy Hasan Miraz got rid of Shamar Joseph.
With a slim first-innings lead of 18, Bangladesh found themselves under early pressure when Jayden Seales caught Mahmudul Hasan Joy at second slip by Athanaze without a run on the board.
However, Shadman Islam and Shahadat Hossain rebuilt the innings in counter-attacking style during a 47-run partnership in just ten overs.
Hossain especially was aggressive, hitting Alzarri Joseph for successive boundaries in the fourth over to signal his intent early on.
That proved his downfall, though, as his attempted pull of the same bowler was skied, and Seales took an easy catch at mid-off to be out for 28 from 26 balls.
Shadman found a worthy partner in his captain, Miraz, and the two carried the score to 110 for two at the tea break.
However, soon after the resumption, fast bowler Shamar Joseph struck when he had Shadman caught behind for a well-played 47 to leave Bangladesh 117 for three.
Miraz, too, seemed headed for a half-century until Shamar Joseph found his outside edge, and wicketkeeper DaSilva did the rest behind the stumps to be out for 42 and the score 132 for four.
Roach returned to bowl five overs after x-rays found no fracture in his shoulder, but soon after, he made his way off the pitch.
Litton Das and Jaker Ali then added 41 runs for the fourth wicket to help Bangladesh tighten their grip on the contest.
Das was eventually bowled for 25 by a slow-off cutter from Greaves, but Ali and Taijul Islam shared an unbroken 20-run partnership to ensure they would have no further losses before bad light ended play early once again.
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