UCB Test Series Powered By Walton 

West Indies Vs Bangladesh 1st Test Played at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Chattogram  

Brief Score Card 

Bangladesh: 324 All Out (Mominul Haque 120, Imrul Kayes 44, Shakib Al Hasan 34, Taijul Islam 39*, Nayeem Hasan 24*, Mehedy Miraj 22, Shannon Gabriel 4/70, JAWarricon 4/62 ) and 125 All Out ( Mahmudullah Riad 31, Mushfiqur Rahim 19, Mehedy Miraj 18, Mohammad Mithun 17, Mominul Haque 12, Soumya Sarkar 11, Mushfiqur Rahim 11*, D Bishoo 4/26 R Chase 3/18, JA Warrican 2/22), West Indies 246 All Out ( SO Hetmeyer 63 , SO Dorwich 63*, Nayeem Hasan 5/61, Shakib Al Hasan 3/43) and 139 All Out ( Ambris 43, Warrican 41, Taijul Islam 6/33, Mehedy Miraj 2/27), Shakib Al Hasan 2/32,

Bangladesh Won by 64 Runs, Player of the Match: Mominul Haque 

Bangladesh won its first ever test match against once unbeatable West Indies at home by 64 runs within 8 of the 15 sessions at Chattogram. Spinning track of test became batsmen’s graveyard for survival, bowlers of both side dominated. Winning the toss and batting first became a blessing on the wicket. Riding on spectacular century of Mominul Haque (120), dogged late order batting of Taijul, Nayeem Hasan and Mehedy Bangladesh posted an impressive 324 in the first innings. Debutant teenager Naeem producing a record setting 5/62 and veteran Shakib tweeting with 3/43 earned Bangladesh an extremely vital 78 runs lead as West Indies could reach 246. 

On the wicket turning square Bangladesh could add only 125 in the second innings and that too after a 31 runs very useful contribution of Mahmudullah. Quality Bangladeshi spinners Taijul, Shakib and Miraj crushed West Indies to 139 in their quest for improbable 204 victory target. Bangladesh won by 64 runs. Winning the test and earning 1-0 lead Bangladesh is looking great for winning the series and even earning a series white wash.

A few milestones and two impressive world records were set up. Captain Shakib crossing the 200 test wickets land mark in the second innings set a new milestones as the quickest allrounder taking 200 wickets and scoring over 3000 test runs. He achieved it in 54 tests while great English Icon Sir Ian Botham required 55 tests for reaching there. Shakib has time at hand breaking and setting few more records by the time he calls up a day.

Debutant teenager Nayeem Hasan set a world record becoming the youngest player on 17 years 355 days taking 5/62 on debut. He eclipsed the record of Australian pace bowler Pat Cummins.
Player of the match scoring majestic 120 in otherwise bowlers dominated test equaled maximum number of test centuries 4 held by great Virat Kohli. He also became the highest (8) test century makers for Bangladesh alongside Tamim Iqbal. He scored 6 of these in Chattogram, his happy hunting ground. His contribution to his test can be easily understood when the second highest score in the test was 63. All other batsmen of both side struggled to come to terms with the wicket while he was at his fluent best in the innings. He also crossed 1000 test runs in Chattogram a feat only done by Mushfiqur Rahim.

In professional sports there is nothing called taking revenge. Professionals always play to win anytime, anywhere. This Bangladesh team was pulverized by this West Indies in a comprehensive test series white wash on tour to the Caribbean Islands only a few months back. The memory of Bangladesh getting shot out for 43 in the first session of the first test was in reflection when West Indies was reduced to 11/4 before lunch yesterday at Chattogram in pursuit for a victory target of 204. This test win must have tasted sweeter for team tigers still trying finding its feet in test cricket. Bangladesh has so far won tets against Australia, England, New Zealand, Zimabawe at home. Now West Indies has been added to the list.

The test was delicately poised when match resumed on day three with the prospect of reaching the result by stumps. Bangladesh was reeling at 55/5. Bangladesh was only 133 ahead .The wicket was turning and bouncing and odd balls were keeping low. Mushfique did not survive long.  Mahmudullah joined Mehedy Miraj. They batted out of their skins adding 37 very useful runs for the 7th wicket.  Their efforts helped Bangladesh setting an improbable 204 runs victory target for the visitors. Mahmudullah scored 31 invaluable runs. On an extremely difficult wicket this wighed gold as each runs required patience and skill to score at that stage.

West Indies were set to a mission impossible. Super Shakib and Terrific Taijul mesmerized West Indian top order with sharp turning arm deliveries. Both struck double blows reducing West Indies to 11/4 by lunch time. When play resumed Hetmeyer and Ambris tried to resurrect for a while. Their efforts could save visitors from total humiliation. But once Mehedy Miraj removed Hetmeyer flood gate was opened again as West Indies was looking down the barrel at 75/8. 

Taijul was looking unplayable. However, brave batting by Ambris and Warrican for a while set some butter flies in Bangladesh camp as they added 65 precious runs in the 9th wicket. Again Miraj and Taijul struck on time to bundle out visitors for 139 before tea time on day three. Bangladesh raced to 64 runs win. Taijul took yet another five wickets haul 6/33 to be exact. He has already taken 40 test wickets in 2018 and looking good for some more this year.

Test is won and mission is successful. But few questions remain unresolved. Bangladesh top order in particular and batsmen in general can not play quality pace attack, can not even bat consistently well again spin on spinning track. Where is the solution? May be return of Tamim would solve one problem. Where is another opener to partner him in Test? 

When given fair deal Mominul will solve number three problem. But what about consistency of middle order in test. When this batting unit will bat with guts anad consistency against quality pace bowling on pace friendly wicket? How can they do that when our own surface would continue giving strange feelings to our own batsmen. Was it a good sign that quality pace bowler Mustafiz was a pedestrian in the test where Gabriel teased and tormented Bangladesh batsmen. Bangladesh must prepare pacer friendly or at least sporting wickets lasting for five days. Otherwise our team would remain tigers at home and pussy cat elsewhere.

Bangladesh must blame their own luck that they won the toss and batted first on such a wicket. It could easily be other way round if Bangladesh batted second. West Indies bowled extremely well in both the innings. Had not been Mominul played that epic innings ad tail wagged Bangladesh could be in dire trouble.

Shanoon Gabriel is suspended and would not be available at Dhaka test. Possibly Reifer or Kimo Pual would replace him. If Dhaka wicket remains the same as that was experienced against Zimbabwe Bangladesh must review its batting options. Mushfique must bat at his usual number four. There is no point in not playing the most astute batsman at his right position when top order consistently fail. Young Sadman may be blooded at Dhaka. He would not perform worse than Kayes or Soumya. Mustafiz should bowl longer or not included in the test at all. Resting him would keep him fresh for ODI and T20 series.

BDST: 1003 HRS, NOV 25, 2018
SI