Shadman 99 not out as Bangladesh dominate

Bright sunshine greeted the players at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur in the morning, but the floodlights had to be switched on before 3pm. Umpires stopped play with 20 overs still scheduled for the day because of poor light. The match resumed after a 53-minute interruption when the clouds cleared, but play lasted only another 15 minutes, with Bangladesh adding just six runs in the final four overs.

Bangladesh finished the opening day on 213-3 after five hours and two minutes of play, 16 overs short of the scheduled allocation. The scoring rate was a modest 2.87 runs per over, but left-handed opener Shadman Islam provided the backbone of the innings with contributions to partnerships of 59, 42 and 88, his effort was only the 20th instance of a batter ending a day's play unbeaten on 99 in Test cricket, with Mushfiqur Rahim's effort against Ireland last year the previous instance and the only other one involving a Bangladesh batter. All 19 previous instances have ended with the batter going on to complete a century, with Litton Das on 10 not out at the other end.

Despite a recent tendency to field three fast bowlers in home Tests, Bangladesh opted for two pacers and three spinners against the West Indies in Mirpur. The uneven bounce and turn available to the spinners on the opening day suggested the hosts’ strategy was not misplaced.

Experienced pacer Kemar Roach was absent from the West Indies XI. Their attack, featuring two fast bowlers capable of reaching 130kph and a medium-pacer, generated little swing on the first day. The slow pitch tested the patience of Bangladesh’s batters, who also had to remain alert against short-pitched deliveries.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Bangladesh began cautiously during the first hour. They managed 34 runs on a slow surface and sluggish outfield but lost a wicket in the process. Tanzid Hasan attempted to drive a delivery from Jayden Seales that pitched on the stumps, only to edge it to second slip for nine.

Bangladesh scored more freely in the second hour but lost their second wicket at 62. West Indies captain Roston Chase brought left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican into the attack in place of pacer Justin Greaves, and the move paid off. Mominul Haque was not deterred, advancing down the track to Warrican before being caught at mid-off for 28 off 51 balls.

Bangladesh added 81 runs in the two-hour second session but lost another wicket. Warrican struck again, trapping captain Najmul Hossain Shanto leg before wicket as he attempted a paddle sweep. Shanto made 19, but Bangladesh did not lose another wicket for the rest of the day.

Shadman has a strong record against the West Indies, having scored more than 50 in each of his previous three Tests against them. The opener carried that confidence into the Mirpur Test, showing positive intent by hitting two boundaries, through deep square leg and extra cover, in an over from off-spinner Chase.

Shadman reached his 10th Test half-century in 145 minutes, taking a single off Seales. After scoring 67 in the first innings against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, he followed up with another half-century in Mirpur. He had a reprieve on 75, however, when an attempted reverse sweep against Chase produced a catch at slip that the West Indies failed to hold. Shadman made no further mistakes.

He ended the day unbeaten on 99 off 219 balls, having spent 302 minutes at the crease and struck 10 boundaries. His last Test century was a 120 against Zimbabwe in Chattogram in April last year. After nine Tests without reaching three figures, the left-hander now has another opportunity to bring up a century.

Warrican was the West Indies’ most effective bowler on the opening day. He took two wickets for 33 runs in his first 11-over spell, dismissing Mominul and Shanto to put Bangladesh under pressure. However, the hosts finished the day in control, with attention firmly fixed on whether Shadman can complete his century.