Sports Desk
Opener Shadman Islam was left stranded on 99 as bad light brought a premature end to the opening day of the first Test against West Indies, with Bangladesh firmly in control at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, reports BSS.
Shadman struck 10 fours in a patient knock that helped Bangladesh recover from an early setback and finish the day on front foot. The hosts had reached 213-3 when play was called off, with Shadman unbeaten on 99 and Liton Das on 10.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat, a decision that eventually paid off as Shadman displayed a remarkable composure against a disciplined West Indies bowling attack.
New ball bowlers Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph immediately put the Bangladesh openers under pressure with probing lines and lengths. Their persistence paid off when Tanzid Hasan Tamim, on 7, edged a delivery outside off stump to the second slip.
Shadman, however, resisted the temptation to drive outside off and patiently rebuilt the innings alongside Mominul Haque. The pair frustrated the West Indies pacers with a 59-run partnership.
Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican broke the stand when Mominul sliced a delivery to mid-off, departing for 28 off 51 balls, including two fours.Warrican then removed Shanto for 19 after a successful leg-before-wicket review, with the Bangladesh captain missing a paddle sweep.
Shadman reached his 10th Test half-century, and fourth against West Indies, off 95 balls, guiding a delivery behind square on the leg side for a single.He subsequently found an able partner in Towhid Hridoy, who was playing his first Test since making his debut in Harare in July this year.
Hridoy began positively, striking an easy boundary off Shamar Joseph before producing an impressive pull against the same bowler.
The pair added 88 runs to bolster Bangladesh’s position before Hridoy was forced to leave the field after suffering cramps in the humid conditions. He was batting on 42.
Shadman continued to accumulate runs steadily, punishing loose deliveries while maintaining his discipline against the probing attack.
Bad light first interrupted play for around 30 minutes when Shadman was on 96. After the resumption, the left-hander moved closer to his third Test century, only to be denied the opportunity to reach the milestone before the day’s play was abandoned.
Liton, returning to the side after recovering from a hip joint injury, was unbeaten on 10 when the umpires called off play.
Warrican was the most successful bowler for West Indies, ending the day with 2-33.
