Top-order batsmen once again have failed to provide a good start as Bangladesh are fearing another batting fiasco in the second innings of the Antigua Test against West Indies.
After 49 overs, at lunch on day three on Saturday, Bangladesh were 115-6 when Shakib Al Hasan was batting on five and Nurul Hasan Sohan on two.
They needed 49 more runs to make West Indies bat again at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Bangladesh began the third day with an overnight score of 50-2. In the first hour, they lost Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque.
Both Shanto and Mominul were struggling; after a series of poor runs Shanto finally moved to double-digit but Mominul could not break the wheel of misfortune.
Shanto was the victim of some planned deliveries from Kyle Mayers, who bowled a few short-of-length deliveries followed by angular delivery which extracted some extra bounce and took the edge of his bat.
Mominul is relieved from captaincy but still carrying the hangover. He was out for only four runs on Saturday which extended his poor run.
The former captain got out for a single-digit or even without scoring for the ninth consecutive time. In the last nine appearances, Mominul has scored only 28 runs for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh were all-out for 103 runs in the first innings and in reply West Indies were all-out for 265 runs which gave them a lead of 162 runs.
To avoid an innings defeat, Bangladesh must overcome this sum but another failure from the top-order has made it difficult.
Mahmudul Hasan Joy was also going through a bad patch but he apparently recovered as the openers got the start after initial hiccups.
But he also could not carry the momentum and was out for 42 runs.
ALSO READ: Pacers provide control on desolate day
Keemar Roach joined the party by taking the wickets of Litton Das and Joy after Mayers enjoyed success early in the morning.
Litton Das, the vice-captain, stepped in after Mominul’s departure and with two fine boundaries, he showed his intention.
But his daredevil attitude ended prematurely as he chased a wide delivery outside off-stump and gave a soft catch to Mayers at slip after scoring 17 runs from 15 balls.
Mayers did both the damage in the first hour as the seaming all-rounder took the wicket of Shanto first and later he trapped Mominul leg before wicket.
Mominul went for a review against the umpire’s decision but the ball tracking showed that the ball was going to hit the timber.
The first hour of the day usually is the most difficult phase and Bangladesh almost spent that period without any damage but just a few minutes before the hour-mark they lost a couple of wickets in quick time.
Earlier on Saturday, Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked four wickets where the pacers ruled and helped Bangladesh to restrict the Caribbeans for 265 runs.
Though Bangladesh fielders dropped a few catches and did not go for a review against Jermaine Blackwood which might curb the total.
Bangladesh pacer Khaled Ahmed expected that the batsmen would give them ample runs to take the game to the fifth day and a chance of winning the match but from the dressing room, he found a very opposite kind of view on Saturday morning in Antigua.
