KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – Kraigg Brathwaite’s penchant for heavy run-scoring continued here yesterday as he stroked his second Test century to headline West Indies’ domination of the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh.
The 21-year-old right-hander was unbeaten on 123 at the close at Arnos Vale, an innings that helped propel the hosts to 264 for three, after they were sent in on a decent batting strip.
Along the way, the Barbadian added 116 for the first wicket with talismanic left-hander Chris Gayle who struck 64, before posting another 128 for the third wicket with the stylish Darren Bravo who stroked 62.
Debutant left-arm spinner Taijul Islam was the best bowler for the visitors, capturing two for 69.
However, it was Brathwaite who made all the headlines, batting the entire day, facing 269 balls and striking eight fours.
As expected, he played the supporting role to Gayle early on, as the Jamaican emerged from a slowish start to dominate the Bangladesh bowling. He batted 143 minutes, faced 105 balls and counted ten fours and a six.
Gayle needed 13 balls to get off the mark but then slowly got into stride, with two successive boundaries off seamer Rubel Hossain in the day’s fourth over.
He swept off-spinner Mahmudullah for another boundary as he moved into double figures and then counted two successive boundaries off Rubel to cruise into the 30s. He posted his 37th Test half-century in style, finding the ropes at mid-wicket with Taijul before clearing them next ball.
Unbeaten on 61 at lunch, Gayle added just three after the break before departing nearly an hour into the session, lbw to off-spinner Shuvagata Hom after missing a sweep. He was initially given not out but Bangladesh were successful in their review.
Kirk Edwards followed four overs later for ten as West Indies stumbled slightly. The right-handed Edwards pulled the first ball he faced for four courtesy a long hop from Shuvagata and then cleared the ropes straight overhead a few overs later with the same bowler.
However, two deliveries later, he was snared at silly point off Taijul, getting a leading edge trying to turn an innocuous delivery to leg.
Brathwaite and Bravo quickly dispelled any fears of a collapse, by taking control of the Bangladeshi attack to carry the Windies to tea at 182 for two.
Showing the patience that has come to characterise his persona, Brathwaite hardly put a foot wrong as he safely navigated the Bangladeshi attack.
He looked in great touch from the outset, hammering Mahmudullah through point for four and driving sweetly through mid-off in the same over, to collect his first boundaries of the day.
Brathwaite punched Taijul to the cover boundary to raise the 100-run stand in the final over before lunch, as he went to the break on 40, with the West Indies on 103 without loss.
He brought up his half-century nine overs after lunch by cutting Shuvagata wide of point for four, and then continued steadily to be unbeaten on 89 at tea.
Brathwaite reached three figures seven overs after tea when he punched a full toss from Mahmudullah to the cover boundary.
Bravo, meanwhile, faced 126 balls in just over 2-1/2 hours at the crease and struck six fours and a six, and seemed en route to another century before he gifted his wicket late in the day.
His first major scoring shot was a six – straight back overhead off Taijul – and he then grafted his way to 17 not out at tea before upping the ante thereafter.
He twice worked Shuvagata to the mid-wicket boundary in the same over and raised his ninth Test half-century by steering Rubel to third man for a single.
Bravo seemed to be moving into high gear when he smashed the first two deliveries of Taijul’s 25th over through cover for fours late in the day but recklessly attempted another big shot off the third delivery of the over and holed out to Mahmudullah at mid-off.
Scoreboard
WEST INDIES 1st innings
C Gayle lbw b Shuvagata Hom 64
K Brathwaite not out 123
K Edwards c Mominul Haque b Taijul Islam 10
DM Bravo c Mahmudullah b Taijul Islam 62
S Chanderpaul not out 1
Extras (b1, lb2, nb1) 4
TOTAL (3 wkts, 87 overs) 264
To bat: J Blackwood, *+D Ramdin, K Roach, J Taylor, S Benn, S Gabriel.
Facll of wickets: 1-116 (Gayle), 2-133 (Edwards), 3-261 (Bravo)
Bowling: Al-Amin Hossain 14-7-30-0, Rubel Hossain 16-0-55-0 (nb1), Mahmudullah 5-0-31-0, Shuvagata Hom 27-4-76-1, Taijul Islam 25-6-69-2.
BANGLADESH – Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Shamsur Hossain, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Hoque, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Shuvogato Hom, Taijul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain.
Toss: Bangladesh.
Umpires: Marais Erasmus, Richard Illingworth; TV – Steve Davis.
