Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam finished the opening day of the first Test against the West Indies in Mirpur unbeaten on 99, just short of his third Test century, as bad light ended play early with the hosts at 213-3.
Shadman Islam finished day one of the first Test against the West Indies in Mirpur on 99 not out, steering Bangladesh to 213-3 before bad light ended play early.
The left-handed opener faced 219 balls and hit 10 fours, with Litton Das unbeaten on 10 at the other end when the umpires called off play after 74 overs. Shadman had brought up his half-century off 95 balls and guided Bangladesh to lunch at 96-2.
Bangladesh batting coach Mohammad Salahuddin said the whole team had been willing him to the milestone. "It was nerve-racking even for us — at the end of the day, the whole team was nervous because everyone wanted him to get to his hundred," he said on Wednesday. "He has played around 30 (32) Test matches but has only two centuries, and I think that number should have been higher."
Towhid Hridoy, who came into the side for the injured Mushfiqur Rahim, was forced to retire hurt on 42 with cramps after he and Shadman put on 88 for the fourth wicket. Bangladesh had earlier lost in-form opener Tanzid Hasan, who edged Jayden Seales to second slip for nine, and Mominul Haque for 28, trapped by Jomel Warrican's left-arm spin.
Warrican struck again shortly after lunch to have captain Najmul Hossain Shanto leg before wicket for 19, leaving Bangladesh at 177-3 at tea. Bad light then interrupted play for an hour before a short resumption was called off for the day.
Warrican finished as the pick of West Indies' bowlers with 2-33 and said his side remained in the contest. "Ideally, I would want one more wicket, but we have control of the game. The game never got away from us," he said. "We were very disciplined as a bowling group."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Bangladesh are well placed in the first of two Tests, with their opener still at the crease overnight after a 219-ball stay.
- The opening day sets the tone for a short series in which the hosts would expect to press home their advantage on home soil.
- A century for Shadman, who has two in roughly 32 Test matches, would be a personal milestone and consolidate Bangladesh's grip on the game.
Background
This is the opening match of a two-Test series between Bangladesh and the West Indies, played in Mirpur. Bangladesh brought Towhid Hridoy into the side in place of the injured Mushfiqur Rahim, and the match began with both teams looking to take control early in the series.
Key Perspectives
Bangladesh batting coach Mohammad Salahuddin: said it was nerve-racking even for the team because everyone wanted Shadman to reach his hundred, and that a player with around 30 (32) Test matches should have more than two centuries.
West Indies bowler Jomel Warrican: said he would ideally have wanted at least one or two more wickets but that his side had control of the game, adding that West Indies were very disciplined as a bowling group.
What to Watch
- Whether Shadman reaches his third Test century when play resumes on day two.
- How Bangladesh's lower order copes if Towhid Hridoy, who retired hurt with cramps, is unable to bat.
- Whether West Indies' disciplined attack can take early wickets to regain control after Bangladesh ended day one on top.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedShadman was unbeaten on 99 when bad light ended play, with Bangladesh at 213-3.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Opener Shadman Islam hit an unbeaten 99 to steer Bangladesh to 213-3 on the opening day of the first cricket Test against the West Indies. The left-hander was on the verge of his third Test century when bad light ended play after 74 overs”
- SupportedWest Indies struck early.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “West Indies struck early when in-form opener Tanzid Hasan edged Jayden Seales to second slip for nine.”
- Not in the sourcesBangladesh took control on the opening day.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Towhid Hridoy retired hurt on 42 due to cramps after he and Shadman added 88 runs for the fourth wicket to steady the Bangladesh innings.”
- SupportedCoach Mohammad Salahuddin said, “It was nerve-racking even for us — at the end of the day, the whole team was nervous because everyone wanted him to get to his hundred.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““It was nerve-racking even for us — at the end of the day, the whole team was nervous because everyone wanted him to get to his hundred,” Bangladesh batting coach Mohammad Salahuddin said on Wednesday.”
- SupportedSalahuddin said, “He has played around 30 (32) Test matches but has only two centuries, and I think that number should have been higher.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““He has played around 30 (32) Test matches but has only two centuries, and I think that number should have been higher.””
- SupportedWarrican said, “Ideally, I would want one more wicket, but we have control of the game. The game never got away from us.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““Ideally, I would want one more wicket, but we have control of the game. The game never got away from us,” said Warrican.”
- SupportedWarrican said, “We were very disciplined as a bowling group.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““We were very disciplined as a bowling group. Even if you’re not getting wickets, you try to be as disciplined as possible.””
- SupportedShadman was just short of his third Test century.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The left-hander was on the verge of his third Test century”
- SupportedHridoy, in the side for injured Mushfiqur Rahim, retired hurt on 42 with cramps after he and Shadman added 88 for the fourth wicket.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Towhid Hridoy retired hurt on 42 due to cramps after he and Shadman added 88 runs for the fourth wicket to steady the Bangladesh innings.”
- SupportedTanzid Hasan was out for nine to Jayden Seales, and Mominul Haque was out for 28 to Jomel Warrican’s left-arm spin.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “West Indies struck early when in-form opener Tanzid Hasan edged Jayden Seales to second slip for nine. Mominul Haque added 28 before falling to Jomel Warrican’s left-arm spin.”
- SupportedWarrican dismissed Najmul Hossain Shanto for 19 shortly after lunch, and Bangladesh were 177-3 at tea.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Shadman guided Bangladesh to lunch at 96-2, before Warrican struck again shortly after the break to trap Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto leg before wicket for 19. ... They batted through the afternoon session to take Bangladesh to 177-3 at the tea break.”
- SupportedBad light interrupted play for an hour, and after a short resumption the umpires called off play for the day.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Bad light then interrupted play for an hour, with umpires calling off play for the day after a short resumption.”