ICC World Test Championship 

Bangabandhu Test Series 2021 
West Indies VS Bangladesh 
Ist Test Played at ZACS, Chottogram. 
Brief Scorecard  
Bangladesh 1st Innings 430 All Out (Mehedy Meraj 103, Shakib Al Hasan 68, Shadman Islam 59, Mushfiqur Rahim 38, Liton K Das 38, Mominul Haq 26, Najmul Hossain 25, Naeem Hasan 24, Taijul Islam 18, Jomel Warrican 4/ 133, Rakheem Cornwall 2/114) 
West Indies 1st Innings 259 All Out in 96.1 Overs (Kraig Braithwaite 76, Jermaine Blackwood 68, Joshua Da Silva 42, Kyle Mayers 40, Nkrumah Bonner 17, Mehedy Meraj 4/58, Mustafizur Rahman 2/46, Nayeem Hasan 2/56 and Taijul Islam 2/ 84) 
Bangladesh 2nd Innings 223/8 Declared in 67.5 Overs   (Mominul Haq 115, Liton K Das 69 Mushfique 18, Jomel Warrican 3/57,, Rakheem  Cornwall 3/ 81, Gabriel 2/37) 

West Indies 2nd Innings 395/7 in 127. 2   overs (Kyle Mayers 210* , John Campbell 23, Kraig Braithwaite 20, Nkrumah Bonner 86 , Joshua Da Silva 20, Mehedy Meraj 4/ 103, Taijul Islam 2/91) 
West Indies Won the test by 3 Wickets 

Man Of The Match: Kayle Mayers 

Weakened but still talented West Indies team deservedly won the first test at Chattogram against complacent unprepared Bangladesh by 3 wickets. The victorious WI team must be given accolades for rocking and shocking Bangladesh.

The visitors took good measures of Bangladesh strength and weaknesses from the first innings, learned lessons, applied and came winner. What a wonderful matured Innings Mayers played? How a very effective match winning partnership Mayer and Bonner produced? West Indies while setting strategy for chasing the victory target never panicked. They remained steady and phased their chase on the final day even starting with back to the wall at 114/3. Two debutants Mayer and Bonner batted like champion matured batsmen. Bangladesh in two sessions could not dislodge them. But the time the partnership of 216 was broken the strong launching pad for victory surge was well set. 

Mayer did not throw it away. Carrying WI on his broad shoulder rookie West Indian took his team across finishing tape producing a superlative unbeaten double century (210*).  A double century on debut. Is another left-handed version of Lawrence Rowe in view? His sparkling innings contained 20 scorching fours and as many as 7 sixes.  Has West Indies and World Cricket discovered another champion Barbadian? Must write a few lines about Bonner another debutant. His 86 was also off immense value. 

Winning the toss and electing to bat Bangladesh did exceedingly well scoring 430 in the first innings and then rolling over West Indies for 259 in the first innings getting huge 171 runs first innings lead. Many thought wickets would break making it happy hunting ground for Bangladeshi spinners. That did not happen. But even then, West Indies bowlers learning lessons from first innings teased and tormented Bangladesh. Shakib less Bangladesh huffed and puffed in dealing with West Indies attack. Other than Captain Mominul (115) and Liton (69) all batted extremely poorly. Even then Bangladesh gained 394 runs lead declaring at 223/8. All thought that it would be a cakewalk for Bangladesh. But how brilliantly West Indies turned the table on Bangladesh? 

Spirited West Indies riding on excellent batting performance of two debutants Kyle Mayers and Nkrumah Bonner shocked host Bangladesh in their happy hunting ground Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium Chottogram. Set a difficult target of 395 for achieving over four sessions on a wicket turning, gripping and ball keeping low visitors overhauled the target scoring… with 15 balls to spare. BCB strategy of anticipating a turning wicket and appearing with four spinners and lone pacer boomeranged. West paid back the host on their own coal. Bangladesh even after taking huge 171 first innings lead succumbed to West Indies spin duo Rakheem Cornwall and Jomel Warrican. Match unfit Shakib stayed out of the match after batting in the first innings. Depleted Bangladesh attack was toyed in the second innings by the less experienced West Indies batsmen. Bangladesh had no answer to dislodge resolute Mayer –Bonner partnership. 

Off course Bangladesh had some positives. Mehedi Miraj batting at number eight in the first innings scored a brilliant century and taking 8 wickets in the test did justice to his all-round ability. Mominul in difficult situation scoring his 10th century ensured that Bangladesh was not completely blown away in the second innings. Injury of Shakib hurt Bangladesh hugely. Inexperience of longer version cricket became apparent as soon as match entered 4th day. 

In the end West Indies were deserving winners. Very few teams loose a test after taking 171 first innings leads.  Bangladesh would lead huge soul searching. Shakib is unsure. Bangladeshi spinners failed to make match-winning impacts. How can Bangladesh turn around? 

Wonder how BCB would discover winning formula against second string West Indies team in Dhaka test?

Now after losing the test many questions would be asked. 
•    Did Bangladesh team management read the wicket well? 
•    What were the preparations for Bangladesh for the test match? 
•    Was it proper appearing with one pacer and four spinners having taken 5 pacers for the test squad? 
•    Why BCB thought that they would win easy against weakened WI team? 
•    Is Mustafiz better test bowler than Abu Jayed Rahi? Was it smart decision excluding experienced Mahmudullah from the test team? 
•    Was Shakib fully match fit? Was it OK risking him? Someone should find answers quickly before setting strategy for Dhaka test for salvaging pride? 

BDST: 1737 HRS, FEB 07, 2021

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