DHAKA: Host West Indies took the command at 264 for three in a rain-affected first day of the first Test match against visiting Bangladesh at Arnos Vale ground, Kingstown on Friday.
Kraigg Brathwaite hit his second Test hundred making a foundation-stone of a formidable West Indies, scoring 123 off 269 deliveries (eight fours) not out.
The rookie opener put on 116 for the first wicket with Chris Gayle (64) to make Mushfiqur Rahim regret his decision to put the West Indies to bat after winning the toss at the start of the day.
Gayle had played very well in the first session, reaching his fifty off 60 balls. He threaded the off-side field well, taking every chance to pick up runs as his opening partner remained circumspect. He struck most of his boundaries in front of the wicket, and got to his 37th fifty with a six over wide mid-on off Taijul.
He survived two chances in the first session: a run-out appeal that had him just reach the bowlers' end to complete a second run. Just after reaching 50, Gayle was dropped by Rubel Hossain off his own bowling.
After Shuvagata dismissed Gayle, it was Taijul's turn to take his first Test wicket. Kirk Edwards, batting at No 3 and under a bit of pressure after two low scores in the ODI series, attacked from the onset.
He quickly got to 10 with a four and a straight six, but Taijul continued to toss the ball up, and took his leading edge in the 43rd over as he looked to work the ball against the turn. Mominul Haque took a sharp catch at silly mid-off, making it 133 for 2.
Darren Bravo joined in the steady accumulation of runs following the comparatively swift dismissal of Kirk Edwards, contributing 62 to a 128-run third-wicket partnership before a careless off-drive off Taijul offered a simple catch to Mahmudullah at mid-off.
On the other hand, Bangladesh bowler Taijul Islam secured two wickets while Shuvagata Hom got the rest one.
Bangladesh Squad:
Tamim Iqbal, Shamsur Rahman, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim*†, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Shuvagata Hom, Taijul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain
West Indies Squad:
CH Gayle, KC Brathwaite, KA Edwards, DM Bravo, S Chanderpaul, J Blackwood, D Ramdin*†, KAJ Roach, JE Taylor, SJ Benn, ST Gabriel.
** Bangladesh bowl first against WI
BDST: 1056 HRS, SEP 06, 2014
