Solid first day for Windies
WEST INDIES are in pole position to press for a series win against Bangladesh at the end of the first day of the second Test at Sabina Park yesterday.
Guided by a defiant century from vice-captain Kraigg Brathwaite and a shot-filled unbeaten 84 from Shimron Hetmyer, West Indies closed on an impressive 295 for four after being asked to take first strike.
Opening with Brathwaite and Devon Smith, they first found themselves in a spot of bother after Smith was dismissed with the score on nine.
Smith, who made 58 in the first Test, was caught at silly mid-on off the bowling of off-spinner Mehidy Hassan Miraz, for two.
Miraz, who ended with figures of three for 101 in the first Test, was one of two spin bowlers used by Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan in the first three overs, as the visitors tried to unsettle the home team.
Brathwaite, who survived a few bat pad shouts during the opening overs, was joined by Kieron Powell and together they put on 50 for the second wicket before the latter was dismissed.
Powell, who made 29, was adjudged leg before wicket again off the bowling of Miraz after he played down the wrong line to a ball that pitched just outside off stump and then straightened.
The out-of-form Shai Hope, who has failed to score a fifty in his last seven innings, thereafter joined Brathwaite and together they took the total to a respectable 79 for two at the lunch break.
CAUGHT
However, shortly after the break, and after sharing a 79-run third wicket stand, Hope played forward to a delivery from leftarm spinner Taijul Islam and failed to get enough contact on the ball, and was caught by a diving wicketkeeper Nusul Hasan in the bat pad region to take the score to 138 for three.
But then came the partnership of the innings, a 109 runs fourth wicket stand between Brathwaite and Hope, which delighted the relatively small crowd that was on hand.
Offering contrasting batting styles, Brathwaite took his time and largely waited for loose deliveries to score, while 21-yearold Hetmyer demonstrated flair and panache with his stroke play.
Brathwaite eventually fell midway through the third and final session, brilliantly caught at short mid-on by a diving Islam off the bowling of Miraz.
Miraz, has so far claimed three for 90 from 27 overs, while Islam has one for 65 from 21.