Tigers manage breakthrough

Bangladesh finally found a breakthrough in the West Indies innings as Shoriful Islam managed to dismiss opener John Campbell in the first hour of the second day of the second Test in St Lucia.

West Indies were 111-1 after the first hour of the second day. Kraigg Brathwaite was unbeaten on 46 off 92 deliveries, along with Raymon Reifer on seven off 12 deliveries.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 234 in their first innings after being put in to bat first by West Indies. Liton Das top-scored with 53, while Tamim Iqbal managed 44.

In reply, the Caribbeans managed to score freely in the remainder of the first day as they scored 67 off 16 overs.

On the second day, Bangladesh managed to cut off the free flow of runs as they gave away only eight runs in the first five overs.

But both Campbell and Caribbean skipper Brathwaite looked set at the crease as their partnership reached 100, the first between the pair.

They could not take it beyond 100 though as Shoriful struck to send Campbell back. Bangladesh seamers tried to bowl fuller lengths in the opening hour, which were easily negotiated by the West Indian openers.

Shoriful then surprised Campbell with a short ball, which the opener tried to pull, but only managed to balloon it off his glove, and Bangladesh wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan Sohan took an easy catch to pick the first Caribbean wicket.

In the next four overs, Bangladesh gave away 11 runs but failed to pick up any more wickets.

Earlier, Bangladesh batsmen failed to utilise their starts in their first innings. All the top five batsmen reached double figures, but only Liton managed a fifty. Tamim, after nearing fifty, got out trying to play an aggressive shot.

Bangladesh batting coach Jamie Siddons was not impressed with the effort despite it being an improvement from their last Test.

“Tamim and Litton were fantastic, but fifties and forties won’t give you enough runs. They need to go on when they get their starts. A couple of the younger players were really impressive but again, they got out. A couple of umpiring decisions were very close, but they didn’t go our way. But (after making) 230, we are struggling at the moment,” he had said after the first day.

Siddons added, “We just need to bat longer. In Test cricket, you have to bat for a long time. You have to be there at the end of the day. Then we have to be looking to bat on tomorrow. We are failing to do that at the moment.”