Bowlers revive West Indies in Bangladesh Test

CHITTAGONG, AFP: The West Indies claimed three quick wickets in the second innings to restore some parity in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Friday.

The hosts on the third day stumps reached 47-3, stretching their 171-run first innings lead to 218 after bowling out the West Indies for 259 runs earlier in the day.

The Windies, after losing the last five wickets for only six runs after Kraigg Brathwaite smashed 76 and Jermaine Blackwood added 68, hit back almost immediately through spinner Rahkeem Cornwall.

The right arm off-break removed opener Tamim Iqbal and one-down Najmul Hossain for ducks in the second over of the innings before Shannon Gabriel bounced out other opener Shadman Islam for five runs. Skipper Mominul Haque stemmed the rot to stay 31 not out at close alongside Mushfiqur Rahim with 10 not out.

The early fifties of Brathwaite and Blackwood gave the West Indies hopes of going close to Bangladesh’s innings total of 430 before their first innings came to an abrupt end.

Mehidy Hasan, who scored highest with 103 in Bangladesh’s first innings, triggered the collapse to finish with 4-58 as the West Indies were bowled out soon after the tea break.

The visitors owed their total to Blackwood who shared a 99-run partnership with Joshua Da Silva (42) for the sixth wicket to help them recover from 154-5.