Nkrumah Bonner defends through the off side © AFP via Getty Images
Lunch West Indies 409 and 98 for 6 (Bonner 30*, Da Silva 20*, Islam 2-31) lead Bangladesh 296 by 211 runs
An unbroken partnership for the seventh wicket worth 25 between Nkrumah Bonner (30*) and a positive Joshua Da Silva (20*) stemmed a middle-order wobble for the West Indies in the face of some disciplined Bangladesh bowling, as the Mirpur pitch started taking more turn and also offered some movement to seam on the morning of day four. Abu Jayed was the most impressive bowler for Bangladesh, who were able to pick the most wickets in the first session on any day of this Test, while Taijul Islam kept things tight in a spell of 11 uninterrupted overs to start the day.
Da Silva came to the crease with West Indies at 73 for 6, and set about disturbing the length of the spinners by pulling out a sweep against Islam for four to get his scoring moving. He appeared at ease through the rest of his stay, with a slog sweep against Nayeem Hasan, and a cover drive against Jayed taking the West Indies lead beyond 200. Bonner was solid at the other end, setting himself up to bat through the innings to stretch the lead to a total from where West Indies can still press for victory.
Earlier, Bangladesh tightened the grip on scoring after a generous first over of the day from Jayed to Bonner. Jayed, who was not used for any of the 21 overs bowled on the third evening, erred in both line and length in the course of his first four balls, allowing Bonner to whip him towards deep mid-wicket and deep backward square-leg, besides driving towards deep cover. Umpire Richard Illingworth, though, would have a word with Bonner about straying on to the middle of the pitch, registering one official warning after having a word with him.
Jayed, who was quick to correct his line and length after the wayward opening over, delivered the first wicket of the day when he pinned nightwatchman Jomel Warrican in front of the stumps before having added to his overnight tally. That brought Kyle Mayers to the crease, and he punched a short ball first up through the gap between mid-on and mid-wicket for an emphatic four. Off the last ball of the Jayed over, though, Mayers pressed forward with bat close to pad, and appeared to have feathered an edge through to Liton Das, but Bangladesh opted not to review.
Jayed wouldn’t have to wait long for redemption, with Mayers playing around his pads and getting trapped in front to one angling in from around the wicket from the seamer while on 6. Jermain Blackwood showed early intent, casually lofting the third ball he faced from Jayed over long-on for a gorgeous six. However, on 9, he fell victim to Taijul Islam, wheeling away economically at the other end, almost immediately after drinks. Islam tempted him to stretch forward, spun the ball across his edge, and Das whipped the bails off with the batsman’s back foot still on the line.
Perhaps chastened by their failure to have taken a valid review against Mayers, Bangladesh went for one against Bonner against the spin of Hasan, when umpire Illingworth had negated a caught-behind appeal. The bat was way away from the body, as the ball went off his thigh, and the Bangladesh players were left red-faced for possibly the worst review in recent memory. However, they know that with the pitch playing up, they have a chance of bowling West Indies out in the second session and then it will be upto their batsmen to level the series.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo