[www.inewsguyana.com] – Bangladesh remained troubled in the first Test at Arnos Vale. They were on 110 for four at lunch, trailing West Indies by 192 runs with five sessions of play remaining. Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah were the unbeaten batsmen, who will have to come back and deal with a pitch that has started to break up.
The progress of Bangladesh’s second innings was eerily similar to the first dig. Their first wicket fell off the second ball of the third over, as it did in the first innings. There was a partnership thereafter but the next wicket fell in the eighties, as did the third wicket on the third day. They had been 105 for 4 at tea yesterday; today they were 110 for 4 at lunch.
Shamsur Rahman, who had his head bowed for some reason as he walked out to open the batting with Tamim Iqbal, was the first to go. He edged a very full delivery from Kemar Roach in the fourth over. West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin moved very smartly to his right to grab the ball, as it would have fallen short of first slip.
Imrul Kayes, Bangladesh’s latest experiment at No 3, started off with three boundaries off Roach, inside-edging one and the driving the next two through cover in the sixth over. But soon, the fast bowler changed his angle, went around the wicket, and started to bring the ball into the left-hander.
Tamim Iqbal batted calmly at the other end, as the pair added yet another half-century partnership, which used to be a fairly regular occurrence when they used to open together four years ago. This was their first 50-plus stand for the second wicket. Imrul went into his shell, getting one more boundary before he gave the cover fielder a very easy catch off a Chris Gayle floater in the 26th over. Having worked hard and survived to make 25, Imrul slammed his bat against his pads in irritation.
Mominul came out to a lot of chatter among the close-in fielders and although he looked unbothered, he wasn’t as organised as during the first innings. He had one close shave when a forward defensive against Benn trickled onto his pads and bounced away near the stumps.
Benn then got one to dip at Mominul and turn between his bat and pad as he drove away from his body. Ramdin immediately appealed and umpire Marais Erasmus gave it out. Mominul reviewed the decision but once again, due to a lack of evidence, the umpire’s decision stood – just as it had when Mominul had been given out caught behind down the leg side in the first innings.
Tamim, having reached an enterprising half-century in 83 balls, fell soon after, when Benn got the ball to turn back at him and crash into his stumps as he looked to punch through cover. Tamim struck four fours and three sixes, and had batted more assuredly in this innings than in his two previous Tests this year.
