If it was Nahid Rana’s pace in the first innings, it was Taijul Islam’s left-arm spin that knocked over West Indies in the second Test in Jamaica. Bangladesh recorded their first Test win in the Caribbean since 2009 as they levelled the series 1-1.
After being blown away by the West Indies’ fast bowlers in the first Test, Bangladesh hit back in the second. Their batting didn’t show any signs of improvement in the first innings. They were bowled out for a mere 164. The West Indies pace quartet of Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales dominated once again.
Barring Shadman Islam, Shahadat Hossain Dipu and skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz, none of the Bangladesh batters could get substantial scores. In fact, only four batters batted for more than 20 balls in the first innings. Seales bowled the most economical spell in Test cricket this century. He returned with four wickets and conceded only five runs in his 15.5 overs.
In reply, West Indies started decently. Their scoring rate was on the slower side but the top three looked solid. Keacy Carty and captain Kraigg Brathwaite got solid starts. However, day three turned the tables. Bangladesh blew away West Indies with the pace of Nahid Rana.
The 22-year-old fast bowler picked up five wickets as Bangladesh skittled the hosts out for a mere 146. The other bowlers chipped in nicely as well and none of the batters outside the West Indies top three went past the 10-run mark. They lost nine wickets for 61 runs.
With a lead of 18 runs, Bangladesh lost Mahmudul Hasan Joy in the first over. But the remaining batters in the top five got starts. Most of them went for their shots and the visitors scored at a quick rate. Shadman Islam was solid at the top while Shahadat Hossain Dipu struck a few boundaries in his brief stay. Mehidy Hasan Miraz who promoted himself to No. 4 scored 42 off 39 balls, hitting seven fours in his knock.
Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam star in the second innings
It was Jaker Ali who blazed away and smashed 91 off just 106 balls to push Bangladesh’s score past the 250-run mark. He hit eight fours and five sixes in his knock as he batted brilliantly with the lower order.
Chasing 287, West Indies kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Four of the first five partnerships went beyond the 20-run mark but none of the batters could play the long innings. Kavem Hodge and Kraigg Braithwaite were the only ones who got substantial scores. For Bangladesh, it was Taijul Islam who ran through the top and middle-order before the pacers wrapped up the innings.
West Indies were bowled out for 185 as Bangladesh registered a 101-run victory. The series finished level on 1-1 as Bangladesh won their first Test in West Indies since 2009. This is only the third time that Bangladesh have not lost a series against West Indies and it was their third Test win in the Caribbean.
BRIEF SCORES: Bangladesh 164 (Shadman Islam 64, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 36, Jayden Seales 4/5, Shamar Joseph 3/49) and 268 (Jaker Ali 91, Shadman Islam 46, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 42, Kemar Roach 3/36, Alzarri Joseph 3/77) beat West Indies 146 (Keacy Carty 40, Kraigg Brathwaite 39, Nahid Rana 5/61, Hasan Mahmud 2/19) and 185 (Kavem Hodge 55, Kraigg Brathwaite 43, Taijul Islam 5/50, Hasan Mahmud 2/20) by 101 runs.
