Shakib helps Bangladesh recover in final session after Warrican strikes

SCORECARD

Bangladesh opted to bat and had opener Shadman Islam scoring a half-century, but the rest of the line-up struggled to convert starts before Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das took them through to stumps with an unbroken stand of 49*.

On an opening day pitch that didn’t have much for the bowlers, Warrican would be pleased with his 3/58 that took the sting out of the Bangladesh batsmen, particularly in the second session. However, the partnership between Shakib and Liton means Bangladesh will be confident on the second morning.

The Bangladesh batsmen played attritional cricket for most of the day, making for a low scoring rate. That perhaps had something to do with the early wicket of senior batsman Tamim Iqbal, who was cleaned up by pacer Kemar Roach in just the fifth over of the morning. The delivery was on a length, but moved in enough to go through Tamim, and Bangladesh were 23/1.

Shadman and Najmul Hossain Shanto then carefully navigated the best part of 19 overs, putting on an assiduous 43, but all the hard work was undone when Shanto was disastrously run out. Shadman had worked one to fine leg, and wanted to run two, but Shanto was late to respond, and was stranded on 25 as the bails were whipped off.

It meant Bangladesh were 69/2 at lunch. With captain Mominul Haque partnering Shadman after the break, the hosts went about slowly adding to the total. It was a session of defensive, patient batting, and with West Indies adopting a defensive approach as well, run-scoring was slow. Haque, however, couldn’t keep at it. He attempted to take on the spinners, skipping down the track against Rahkeem Cornwall at one point, and was fortunate his miscued shot landed safely.

He tried it again, against Warrican, and this time, against a dipping ball, he could only pick out the fielder at mid-wicket. Shadman, who had brought up his half-century meanwhile, was undone by Warrican shortly thereafter, trapped in front attempting a sweep, and Bangladesh were suddenly in deeper trouble at 134/4. They went into tea at a precarious 140/4, their patient batting undone.

The final session was therefore crucial for the home side. They needed runs while also keeping wickets intact, but in the duo of Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib, they had experienced campaigners to help navigate the tough waters.

Shakib put on important, sizeable partnerships with Mushfiqur first and then with Liton. Mushfiqur scored a 69-ball 38 – a knock comprising six fours – helping revive Bangladesh, but just when it seemed the hosts were getting away, Warrican struck again, drawing an edge that was well taken by Cornwall at slips.

Bangladesh bat deep, however, and Liton came in to ensure there were no further slip-ups for the rest of the day. He scored a relatively quick 58-ball 34* while Shakib continued knocking it about at the other end, and by the time stumps were drawn, Bangladesh had added 102 runs in the final session to help put the team in a relatively stronger position heading into the second morning.