Darren Bravo made the breakthrough, collecting his maiden Test hundred to put West Indies in a near impregnable position in the second Test against Bangladesh yesterday.
The stylish left-hander promised much in the past, but finally delivered with an even, undefeated 100 that propelled West Indies to 207 for three in their second innings for an overall lead of 331 after three days in the final match of the two-Test series at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.
This came after leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo claimed two of the last three Bangladesh wickets, finishing with three wickets for 62 runs from 23 overs, as the host were bowled out for 231, replying to West Indies’ first innings total of 355, about an hour before lunch.
Obvious relief
Bravo, the younger brother of West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, reached his milestone from 165 balls, cutting the short, wide last delivery of the day from left-arm spinner Suhrawadi Shuvo through point for two, naturally sparking a leap of joy in obvious relief.
He added 151 for the third wicket with Kirk Edwards.
West Indies were set back early, when Brathwaite was run out off the second ball, when he failed to beat a direct hit at the bowler’s end from Naeem Islam.
Edwards joined Powell and they settled down into the job with the left-handed opener drilling Nasir Hossain straight back past the bowler for the first boundary of the innings.
The two batsmen, however, got tied down when Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim turned to an all-spin attack after six overs, as West Indies reached 27 for one at lunch.
After the interval, Edwards started confidently, driving Nasir Hossain through cover for four, but Powell remained circumspect before he was skied a delivery from Shakib Al Hasan and was caught at mid-on for 12.
This brought Bravo to the crease and he got into stride with a lofted straight drive for four off his second delivery from Shakib.
SCOREBOARD
WEST INDIES 1st Innings 355
(K. Edwards 121; Shakib Al Hasan 5-63)
BANGLADESH 1st Innings
(overnight 204 for seven)
| Tamim Iqbal c Bravo b F. Edwards | 14 |
| Imrul Kayes c Brathwaite b F. Edwards | 29 |
| Shahriar Nafees c Bravo b F. Edwards | 7 |
| Raqibul Hassan lbw b F. Edwards | 0 |
| +Mushfiuqur Rahim c Chanderpaul b F. Edwards | 0 |
| Shakib Al Hasan b Bishoo | 73 |
| Naeem Islam run out (Chanderpaul/Bishoo/+Baugh) | 45 |
| Nasir Hossain c Edwards b Samuels | 42 |
| Suhrawadi Shuvo c Brathwaite b Bishoo | 15 |
| Shahadat Hossain b Bishoo | 4 |
| Rubel Hossain not out | 2 |
| Extras | 0 |
| TOTAL (all out, 68 overs) | 231 |
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-36, 3-46, 4-46, 5-59, 6-143, 7-95, 8-225, 9-225.
Bowling: F. Edwards 13-0-63-5; Roach 9-0-52-0;Sammy 10-3-32-0; Bishoo 23-4-62-3; Samuels 13-2-22-1.
WEST INDIES 2nd Innings
| K. Brathwaite run out (Naeem Islam) | 0 |
| K. Powell c Nasir Hossain b Shakib Al Hasan | 12 |
| K. Edwards b Suhrawadi Shuvo | 86 |
| D.M. Bravo not out | 100 |
| K. Roach not out | 4 |
| Extras (lb2, nb3) | 5 |
| TOTAL (3 wkts, 71 overs) | 207 |
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-33, 3-184
Bowling: Rubel Hossain 9-2-22-0 (nb2); Nasir Hossain 16-3-49-0; Shakib Al Hasan 17-1-62-1; Naeem Islam 7-2-13-0; Suhrawadi Shuvo 15-2-32-1; Shahadat Hossain 3-0-15-0 (nb1); Raqibul Hasan 4-0-12-0.
Position: West Indies lead by 331 runs with seven second innings wickets standing.
Umpires: K. Dharmasena, N. Llong
TV umpire: Nadir Shah
Matchreferee: A. Pycroft
Reserve umpire: Enamul Haque
Source-CMC
