DHAKA: Bangladesh’s spinners took late wickets to give them a glimmer of hope after Rahkeem Cornwall’s maiden five-wicket haul gave the West Indies a healthy 113-run first innings lead in the second Test in Dhaka on Saturday.

The visitors finished the third day with 41-3 in the second innings, stretching their lead to 154 runs.

Nkrumah Bonner was on eight along with nightwatchman Jomel Warrican (2), as the West Indies looked to set a target for the hosts on the fourth day at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

The West Indies, who lead 1-0 in the two-match series, owed their advantage to the burly Cornwall, who finished with 5-74 helping as Bangladesh were bowled out for 296 an hour into the final session on the day.

But Bangladesh’s spinners struck back almost immediately as Nayeem Hasan dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite for six and Mehidy Hasan removed Shayne Moseley for seven.

Taijul Islam delivered further blow blowing out John Campbell for 18.

Liton Das, Mehidy and Mushfiqur Rahim earlier hit fifties to rescue Bangladesh in reply to the West Indies’ 409 runs in the first innings.

Cornwall dismissed Liton for 71 to break his 126-run seventh wicket stand with Mehidy after the pair helped Bangladesh recover from 155-5.

Resuming on 105-4, Bangladesh — who must win the game to avoid a series defeat — earlier pinned great hopes on Mushfiqur, their most experienced batsman.

But he threw away his wicket by attempting a reverse sweep off Cornwall after completing his fifty off 89 balls.

Senior Bangladeshi cricketers Abdur Razzak and Shahriar Nafees formally retired during the lunch break, ending their career to join the country’s cricket administration.

Left-arm spinner Razzak, who played 13 Tests, 153 One-day Internationals and 34 Twenty20 Internationals, was recently named as a member of the selection committee.

Shahriar, who played 24 Tests, 75 ODIs and a T20 International, will join the Bangladesh Cricket Board as assistant manager for cricket operations.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES (1st Innings) 409 (J. Da Silva 92, N.E. Bonner 90, A.S. Joseph 82, Abu Jayed 4-98, Taijul Islam 4-108).

BANGLADESH (1st Innings, overnight 105-4):

Tamim Iqbal c Moseley b Joseph 44

Soumya Sarkar b Gabriel 0

Najmul Hossain c Bonner b Gabriel 4

Mominul Haque c Da Silva b Cornwall 21

Mushfiqur Rahim c Mayers b Cornwall 54

M. Mithun c Brathwaite b Cornwall 15

Liton Das c Blackwood b Cornwall 71

Mehidy Hasan c Brathwaite b Gabriel 57

Nayeem Hasan c Blackwood b Cornwall 0

Taijul Islam not out 13

Abu Jayed c Bonner b Joseph 1

EXTRAS (B-5, W-1, NB-10) 16

TOTAL (all out, 96.5 overs) 296

FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-11, 3-69, 4-71, 5-142, 6-155, 7-281, 8-281, 9-283.

BOWLING: Gabriel 21-3-70-3 (7nb); Cornwall 32-8-74-5; Joseph 17.5-3-60-2 (1w); Mayers 8-2-15-0; Warrican 13-2-48-0 (3nb); Bonner 3-0-17-0; Brathwaite 2-0-7-0.

WEST INDIES (2nd Innings):

K.C. Brathwaite c Liton b Nayeem 6

J.D. Campbell b Taijul 18

S.A.R. Moseley c Mithun b Mehidy 7

N.E. Bonner not out 8

J.A. Warrican not out 2

EXTRAS 0

TOTAL (three wkts, 21 overs) 41

FALL OF WKTS: 1-11, 2-20, 3-39.

BOWLING (to-date): Taijul Islam 6.4-1-13-1; Nayeem Hasan 10-3-14-1; Mehidy Hasan 4-0-14-1

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2021