By BV Swagath
An unbroken stand of 198 between Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels for the third wicket laid the foundation for a solid first innings total for the West Indies in the Second and Final Test at Khulna. The visitors closed the second day’s play at 241 for 2 in 82 overs having bowled out Bangladesh for 287 early on.
The second day began with Bangladesh at 365 for 8 with two well set batsmen in Mahmudullah and debutant Abu Hasan who scored a century on debut at no.10. The pair couldn’t repeat their magic this morning and were sent back to the pavilion without much damage. Mahmudullah (76 from 97 balls with 9 fours) was the first to go, caught and bowled by Darren Sammy off a fuller delivery to end what was a 184-run stand for the 9th wicket. Abu Hasan (113 from 123 balls with 14 fours and 3 sixes) followed Mahmudullah in the pavilion by fending off a lifter from Fidel Edwards into the slips.
Fidel Edwards with the wicket of Abu Hasan wrapped up the Bangladesh first innings with his 6 for 90 in 18.1 overs. By Lunch, Bangladesh were feeling good by removing the West Indian openers – Kieran Powell (13, caught in the deep in a pull shot off Rubel Hossain) and Chris Gayle (25, caught down the legside in a sweep shot to off spinner Sohag Gazi).
The visitors went to Lunch at 62 for 2 with the pair of Bravo and Samuels who came back to bat out the remaining two sessions. Darren Bravo collected 85* (from 197 balls with 7 fours) and Marlon Samuels stroked his way to a 5th Test century. He remained unbeaten on 109* (from 231 balls with 13 fours and a six).