WI vs. BAN 2024/25, WI vs. BAN 1st test match report, November 22nd – 26th, 2024

Bangladesh 269 ​​for 9 Dec and 109 for 7 (Mehidy 45, Litton 22, Roach 3-20, Seales 3-31) need another 225 runs to bat West Indies 450 for December 9th and 152 (Athanaze 42, Brathwaite 23, Taskin 6-64, Mehidy 2-31)

However, Bangladesh batters failed to repay their bowlers. Both openers ended similarly to the first inning when they were sent off. Zakir Hasan pushed Roach inside while Mahmudul Hasan pushed Joy Seales for the third time. Roach then set up Shahadat Hossain in the 11th over, letting the ball fly away several times and hitting a booming inswinger. The ball touched Shahadat’s gloves as he tried to evade it before Joshua Da Silva took the inside edge.

Shamar Joseph then saw two dropped catches in his first over, both from Mominul Haque. Da Silva missed a chance on the leg side before Mikyle Louis was unable to save a direct chance at the gully. However, Mominul couldn’t last long as Roach took a great catch and bowled off his drive in the next over.

But Shamar’s bad luck continued at the other end. Alick Athanaze dropped Mehidy Hasan Miraz at second slip while the Bangladesh captain was on 14. Litton Das hit a shot upfield, but Seales was able to pick it up from behind. However, Shamar’s despair at losing four catches while bowling did not last long. He had Litton caught at good leg for 22, which reduced Bangladesh to 59 for 5 in the 18th over.

Mehidy was the only one who batted for Bangladesh, surviving the short-ball barrage and keeping the scoreboard ticking. He made 45 from 46 balls with five fours and a six before Seales had him caught behind when Da Silva took a good catch. Seales then also bowled Taijul Islam cleanly.

The West Indies’ morning had started happily despite the surprising declaration. Shahadat dropped captain Kraigg Brathwaite at first slip on the 9th ball. On the next ball, Taskin slammed an inswinger into Louis’ frontcourt but umpire Kumar Dharmasena did not call it out. Replays showed the batsman was just ahead but Bangladesh had not accepted the review.

However, Taskin removed Louis in his next over when the opener was trailing by 8. Taskin then had Keacy Carty caught at third slip, another reward for his excellent line and length in his first over. Brathwaite then guided Shoriful Islam to second slip in the following over as the visitors’ decision to come forward was vindicated early on.

Kavem Hodge and Alick Athanaze almost got the West Indies out of trouble. The pair hit eight fours on either side of the lunch break, but just as they added 50 for the fourth wicket, Bangladesh struck three times in as many overs. Taskin’s beautiful throw, which easily evaded him, left Hodge 15 points behind. It was also Litton Das’ 100th catch in the Tests.

Mehidy then removed Athanaze in the following round. He made 42 from 63 balls, with seven fours, but the young left-hander played a redundant shot and hit the back foot while trying to cut off a ball that spun into him. Taskin then cut the ball off Justin Greaves with another fantastic throw, while the Centurion only made 2 in the second in the first innings.

Alzarri Joseph immediately countered Taskin, and this time there was no verbal exchange between the two. Da Silva followed suit and scored two fours from Taskin’s next over. He hit Taijul for a straight six but then the left-arm spinner got a hit to go big for Da Silva, who took a catch to point.

Alzarri then picked up short fine leg after beating Mehidy at the top. He had previously overcome a similar top edge, but Mominul had missed a relatively difficult chance. Mominul had also previously dropped Carty at short cover.

However, all was forgotten when Taskin challenged Shamar to complete his first five-pointer. He ended the West Indies innings when Mehidy took a brilliant diving catch in the middle after Roach was deceived by a slower ball from Taskin.

But Bangladesh’s batters could not take inspiration from their bowlers as they collapsed on the fourth day.