Jaker's 91 set Bangladesh a target of 287, while Taijul
dominated the West Indies with a five-wicket haul.
Bangladesh secured their first Test victory in the West
Indies in 15 years, defeating the hosts by 101 runs in Jamaica. This victory
marked a remarkable turnaround for the visitors, who had suffered a heavy
defeat in the first Test in Antigua, resulting in a 1-1 series draw. It was a
much-needed win for a team that had endured five consecutive losses, with
Taijul Islam, Jaker Ali, and Nahid Rana playing key roles in their third away
win of 2024 – the most they have achieved in a single calendar year.
Left-arm spinner Taijul claimed 5 for 50 in the fourth
innings, helping to dismiss the West Indies for 185. This was his 15th
five-wicket haul, the fourth abroad, and his first in the Caribbean in a
decade. Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and Rana also contributed, taking the
remaining five wickets.
Rana earned his maiden Test five-wicket haul in the second
innings, bowling out the West Indies for just 146.
Bangladesh had posted only 164 in their first innings, but
their recovery in the second innings was equally impressive. Jaker played a
pivotal role, scoring 91 in a counter-attacking knock that included five sixes
and eight fours. He contributed 62 of Bangladesh's 75 runs in the morning
session on the fourth day.
West Indies will likely feel they let an early advantage
slip away, as Jayden Seales put in a standout performance with figures of 5 for
4 from 15.5 overs. However, Seales, despite his fiery spell, gave away runs in
the third innings as Bangladesh seized the momentum on a tense third afternoon.
On the fourth morning, Jaker became key to expanding
Bangladesh's lead from 211. His innings didn’t begin smoothly, though, as
Alzarri Joseph struck him on the helmet. Bangladesh physio Bayezid Islam Khan
took some time to clear Jaker, with the BCB cautious due to his previous
concussion history.
The situation worsened as Bangladesh lost consecutive
wickets shortly after.
Taijul edged a short ball for 14, ending a partnership of 34
runs for the sixth wicket with Jaker. Mominul Haque completed a rare Test pair
when he was dismissed off his fourth ball, visibly unwell as he walked off the
field, leaving Bangladesh's tail exposed.
With the pressure mounting, Jaker countered by taking on the
West Indies attack. He hooked Kemar Roach over the head of wicketkeeper Joshua
Da Silva for a boundary, then pulled Alzarri Joseph for his first six, bringing
him to his third consecutive fifty in his first three Tests—a feat only matched
by Zakir Hasan for Bangladesh.
 |
| Jaker Ali scored his Test best score of 91 |
Jaker continued his aggressive strokeplay in the following
two balls. He slashed at a short delivery for a four over the slips, followed
by a hooked six. He then hammered Roach over wide long-on for another six, but
Roach quickly responded by taking the wickets of Mahmud and Taskin in
successive overs.
Still undeterred, Jaker unleashed another barrage of
boundaries. He struck Shamar Joseph for two fours in one over—both pull
shots—before launching Roach for his fourth six straight down the ground. He
then hoisted Shamar for his fifth six over midwicket, before finally falling to
a catch in the deep later in the over.
Taijul was quick to make an impact, getting to work as early
as the fifth over when he had Mikyle Louis in a tangle. Louis attempted a drive
but ended up edging the ball onto his front foot, with Shahadat Hossain diving
to take a catch at forward short leg.
Brathwaite, sensing the need to seize control, took the
attack to the Bangladesh bowlers. He had already struck a boundary with a
square cut, and after the lunch break, he drove Mahmud beautifully through the
covers. He then launched Taijul over wide long-on for a six, but Keacy Carty
struggled to get going at the other end.
Taskin made the breakthrough, getting Carty caught behind
for 14 after a sequence of dot balls, and Taijul soon claimed the scalp of
Brathwaite. The West Indies captain was troubled a few times before Taijul got
one to turn and catch the shoulder of Brathwaite's bat, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy
tumbling to his right from slip to complete the catch. Taijul then got one to
pitch on a rough patch, spinning back through Alick Athanaze’s large gap
between bat and pad. Athanaze, attempting a loose drive, looked uncertain in
his brief six-ball stay.
Meanwhile, Hodge maintained his composure, playing a sharp
knock with regular boundaries. He slashed Rana and cut Taskin in consecutive
overs, and then struck Mehidy for two fours in one over before lofting Taijul
over the covers before tea.
West Indies had a positive start to the third session, with
Hodge reaching his fifty off the first ball after the break, but he fell soon
after. Hodge played back to a Taijul delivery that kept very low, trapping him
lbw, a dismissal he had previously faced against Keshav Maharaj and Shoaib
Bashir.
Taskin then dismissed Justin Greaves, with a delivery that
also kept a little low, but the batter failed to adjust his stance. Joshua Da
Silva’s miserable series ended when Taijul had him lbw, another West Indies
batter falling victim to a delivery that could have been played off the front
foot.
When Mehidy returned for a second spell, he made an
immediate impact, dismissing Alzarri and Roach to bring Bangladesh close to
victory. The final moment came when Rana, who had already played a crucial role
with a five-wicket haul in the first innings, sealed the win by dismissing
Shamar with a yorker, completing a hard-earned victory for Bangladesh.
0 Comments