GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Shiv Chanderpaul’s second half-century of the match and third in as many innings, propelled West Indies to a massive lead and left Bangladesh with a Herculean task of saving the second Test.
At the close of the third day here yesterday, West Indies were 208 for four, already a lead of 427 runs, with two days still left in the contest at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.
Once again, it was Chanderpaul who was at the heart of the Windies progress, finishing on 63 not out to follow up his unbeaten 84 in the first innings.
He has so far added 108 for the fifth wicket with Jermaine Blackwood, who was in sight of his second Test half-century on 43.
Their stand was required when West Indies slumped to 100 for four, 20 minutes after tea, courtesy of a double strike by off-spinner Mahmudullah who removed Darren Bravo for seven and then opener Kraigg Brathwaite in quick succession.
Chanderpaul has so far faced 98 balls and struck five fours while Blackwood has hit a four and a six off 96 deliveries.
West Indies had earlier claimed a commanding 219-run lead, after left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn picked up two of the last three wickets to fall as Bangladesh were bowled out for 161 in their first innings.
Resuming from their overnight 104 for seven, the visitors were eventually dismissed 20 minutes before lunch, with Benn finishing with two for 19.
Seamers Kemar Roach, who took five for 42, and Jerome Taylor, two for 41, failed to add to their spoils from Sunday.
Bangladesh kept the Windies wicket-less for nearly 45 minutes in the morning session with Mahmudullah, unbeaten on 13 overnight, taking the fight to the West Indies bowlers with a top score of 53. He batted 161 minutes, faced 100 balls and struck two fours and a six, extending the eighth wicket stand with Shafiul Islam (10) to 45.
It was pacer Shannon Gabriel who got the breakthrough in the third over of his first spell of the morning, finding Shafiul’s edge through to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin at 134 for eight.
After the drinks break, Mahmudullah clubbed Gabriel over the ropes at mid-wicket and then raised his half-century by banging a full toss from the same bowler to the long on boundary.
However, he was gone two balls later in the next over when he edged a cut at Benn behind and Robiul Islam followed soon afterward, lbw without scoring to the lanky Barbadian.
With the Windies opting not to enforce the follow-on, Brathwaite and Johnson gave them another cautious start, putting on a sedate 76 to set the foundation for an intimidating target. On 12 without loss at lunch, West Indies pushed on afterward, with the left-handed Johnson striking eight fours in an innings lasting 59 balls and 77 minutes and Brathwaite counting three fours and a six, off 112 balls in 139 minutes at the crease.
Johnson looked at ease but was bowled 40 minutes before tea, coming down the wicket and playing over a full length delivery from left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.
Kirk Edwards’ miserable form continued when he fell cheaply for two, after spending eight balls at the crease.
He was given out lbw before he had scored to the third ball he faced, but reviewed the decision and replays showed he had gotten an inside edge.
However, the right-hander failed to capitalize on the good fortune and was eventually caught at gully by Shamsur Rahman, fending off one from seamer Shafiul Islam which bounced awkwardly.
On 90 for two at tea, West Indies suffered two major setbacks almost immediately afterward. Darren Bravo, unusually watchful, lofted the first ball of the fourth over after the resumption over long-on for four but was then bowled the very next ball, attempting to pull but getting an edge onto his body and then onto the stumps.
Two overs later, Brathwaite prodded forward to one from Mahmudullah which drifted, took the edge and found the save hands of Shamsur at slip.
With the Windies wobbling, Chanderpaul and Blackwood rallied the innings. The veteran left-hander punched Mahmudullah off the back foot through extra cover for four and also drove a stray full toss from Taijul to the long off boundary, to find his stride.
Not to be left out, Blackwood discarded his guarded approach to smash Mahmudullah for a straight six, a stroke that put the Windies on the brink of the 350-run lead.
Scoreboard
WEST INDIES 1st innings 380
BANGLADESH 1st innings
(overnight 104 for seven)
Tamim Iqbal c wkp Ramdin b Roach 48
Shamsur Rahman c wkp Ramdin b Roach 1
Anamul Haque c Bravo b Roach 9
Mominul Haque c Blackwood b Taylor 3
*+Mushfiqur Rahim b Taylor 4
Mahmudullah c wkp Ramdin b Benn 53
Nasir Hossain c wkp Ramdin b Roach 1
Taijul Islam c Gabriel b Roach 12
Shafiul Islam c wkp Ramdin b Gabriel 10
Robiul Islam lbw b Benn 0
Al-Amin Hossain not out 7
Extras (lb10, w1, nb2) 13
TOTAL (all out; 62.3 overs) 161
Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Shamsur Rahman), 2-43 (Anamul Haque), 3-62 (Tamim Iqbal), 4-65 (Mominul Haque), 5-68 (Mushfiqur Rahim), 6-69 (Nasir Hossain), 7-89 (Taijul Islam), 8-134 (Shafiul Islam), 9-154 (Mahmudullah, 60.1), 10-161 (Robiul Islam)
Bowling: Taylor 19-5-41-2 (nb2), Roach 20-5-42-5, Gabriel 15-149-1 (w1), Benn 8.3-2-19-2,
WEST INDIES 2nd Innings
K Brathwaite c Shamsur Rahman b Mahmudullah 45
L Johnson b Taijul Islam 41
K Edwards c Shamsur Rahman b Shafiul Islam 2
DM Bravo b Mahmudullah 7
S Chanderpaul not out 63
J Blackwood not out 43
Extras (lb5, w2) 7
TOTAL (4 wkts, 67 overs) 208
Fall of wickets: 1-76 (Johnson), 2-81 (Edwards, 22.5), 3-97 (Bravo, 34.2), 4-100 (Brathwaite, 36.2)
Bowling: Taijul Islam 27-5-76-1, Al-Amin Hossain 4-0-18-0, Robiul Islam 11-3-34-0 (w2), Shafiul Islam 10-1-21-1, Mahmudullah 11-2-37-2, Mominul Haque 4-0-17-0.
Position: West Indies lead by 427.
Toss: Bangladesh.
Umpires: S Davis, R Illingworth; TV – M Erasmus.