A day that promised much for Bangladesh ended with the West Indies 56 for one in their second innings and leading by 61, after impressive bowling from Kemar Roach kept the hosts in the second and final Test on Saturday.
Bangladesh were dismissed for 232, replying to West Indies first innings total of 237, with Roach finishing with the flattering figures of six wickets for 48 runs from 23.5 overs on the second day of the Test at the Queen’s Park Stadium Complex.
“It was a fine performance, a magical moment for me,” Roach said. “I have a passion for West Indies cricket. I wanted to play for the West Indies. It was always my dream and I am glad to have been given this chance, and to be here.”
PHOTO: AP
“I think I can live up to the expectations which people have for me,” he said. “I think I have a lot more of these performances left in me. I want to prove to people it’s not just luck or chance of doing well early, but I want to do it throughout my career, and the only way to prove it is through taking wickets.”
“I put a lot more effort into my bowling [on Saturday] and bowled a few more short balls, because I realized that they were worrying the Bangladeshis,” he said. “It was more about bowling smart — doing the right things at the right time. We now have a really good chance of winning this Test match and squaring the series, and I am confident that the guys will get the job done.”
In an hour-and-a-half before the close, Shakib Al Hasan managed to scalp opener Dale Richards leg before wicket for 12 to set the West Indies back, but Bangladesh missed a chance to tighten the noose when Tamim Iqbal put down Travis Dowlin on nought at slip off Mahmudullah.
Earlier, several Bangladesh batsmen got starts without carrying on — Mushfiqur Rahim hit the top score of 48, Raqibul Hasan made 44, Tamim Iqbal got 37 and Mahmudullah added 28.
However, every time Bangladesh seemed to be fortifying their position in the match, the West Indies would fight back with Roach taking a leading role, after the Tigers continued from their overnight total of 35 without loss.
They came under pressure early and slid to 134 for five at lunch.
Night-watchman Enamul Haque was a sacrificial lamb and became the second of five dismissals for wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton when he was caught down the leg-side off Roach for 13 in the first half an hour.
The Tigers found scoring difficult against tidy bowling from the Caribbean side and wobbled to 77 for four.
Tamim Iqbal, a century-maker in the opening Test, was caught behind off Dave Bernard Jr and Junaid Siddique was bowled for 7 when he chopped on a delivery from Ryan Austin.
Mohammad Ashraful joined Raqibul and stemmed the fall of wickets, before he cut a short ball from let-arm spinner Ryan Hinds and was caught at backward point for 12, to leave the Tigers on 106 for five.
Shakib and Raqibul stabilized the Bangladeshi innings, but things began to unravel for the visitors after lunch in the face of the Roach onslaught.
Raqibul was struck on his left elbow by a short, lifting delivery from Roach and required the physio.
Two balls later, he wafted at a wide half-volley and was caught behind and two overs later, Shakib was caught at mid-wicket to set Bangladesh back on 157 for seven.
After the break, the Bangladeshis’ frailty against fast bowling was cruelly exposed, when West Indies captain Floyd Reifer turned to Roach and Tino Best, his two fastest bowlers, to hasten the end of the innings.
Mushfiqur was the first to surrender as a full-pitched delivery followed a pair of bouncers, driving loosely after putting on a valuable 62 with Mahmudullah.
The rest of the Bangladesh batting offered token resistance only, as the West Indies claimed their last three wickets for 13 runs.
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday fought through a second-set slump to post a roller-coaster 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Damir Dzumhur in his opening match at the Cincinnati Open. The Spaniard, playing his first tournament since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final, raced through the first set, but completely lost his way in the second, dropping his serve twice against the 33-year-old Bosnian. Alcaraz regained his intensity and cut down his errors in the third set as a seventh ace took him to a match point that was converted when Dzumhur fired wide. “It was just a roller coaster,” said the second
NEXT ROUND: World No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka opened their title defenses with straight-sets wins, while Iga Swiatek and Taylor Fritz also advanced Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka got their title defenses off to smooth starts as they powered into the third round of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday. The men’s and women’s top seeds, each ranked No. 1 in the world, were both competing for the first time since Wimbledon, where Sinner lifted the title and Sabalenka bowed out in the women’s semi-finals. Sinner crushed Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in steamy afternoon weather, while Sabalenka beat 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-1 under the lights of the night session. Sabalenka needed 54 minutes and a service break in the final game
RSS