Bangladesh: 1st innings 324 all out; Mominul Haque 120, Imrul Kayes 44, Shakib Al Hasan 34, Taijul Islam 39*, Naeem Hasan 24*, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 22; Shannon Gabriel 4/70 , JA Warricon 4/62
2nd innings : 125 all out; Mahmudullah Riyad 31, Mushfiqur Rahim 19, Mehidy Miraz 18, Mohammad Mithun 17, Mominul Haque 12, Soumya Sarkar 11; D Bishoo 4/26 R Chase 3/18 , JA Warrican 2/22,
West Indies 1st innings: 246 all out; SO Hetmeyer 63, SO Dorwich 63*; Naeem Hasan 5/61, Shakib Al Hasan 3/43
2nd innings: 139 all out; Ambris 43, Warrican 41, Taijul Islam 6/33, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2/27, Shakib Al Hasan 2/32.
Results: Bangladesh won by 64 runs
Player of the match: Mominul Haque (Bangladesh)
Bangladesh won the match by a huge and handsome 64 runs within two and a three quarters of a day in Chattogram against West Indies. For many reasons, this Test will go down in the record book.
It is one of quickest Test win with just a little over 15 sessions of the five days required. Bangladesh batting first did well in posting impressive 324 in the first innings judged from the nature and character of wicket. In the face of world class spin attack of Bangladesh when debutant teenager Naeem Hasan took 5 for 62 runs and rewrote cricket history. West Indies could reach as far as 246.
Bangladesh in the second innings had to deal with consistent and accurate spin attack on a sharply turning uneven track. They could set a target of 204 to West Indies getting all out for 125. Shakib, Taijul and Mehidy combine crushed West Indies to 139 winning the Test by 64 runs before tea on day-3. Bangladesh won yet another Test at home against team higher in ICC ranking. They had earlier won Tests against Australia, England, New Zealand and Zimbabwe.
It is only the sub-continental teams India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka they have not won any Test against. The win puts Bangladesh 1-0 up in the two-Test series creating opportunity for a series win or even a white wash.
The second Test would be played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium from November 30.
It merits mentioning here that Bangladesh was comprehensively whitewashed in Test by almost the same time early this year on their tour to West Indies. In the first session of the first Test, Bangladesh were bundled out for 43.
In view of that bitter experience, the win on November 24 must have tasted sweeter for Bangladesh.
Test matches are played over five days. It is not usual that wicket starts turning square from day two and becomes almost unplayable on day three. In that context there are reasons for questioning about the quality of the wicket. But home team always makes wickets to suit their strength.
But could Bangladeshi batsmen decode the mystery of the wicket? Apart from Mominul and Shakib in the first innings, no other batsmen of either side looked comfortable.
Moreover, Bangladesh was lucky winning the toss to make the first use of the wicket. Little master of Bangladesh Mominul Haque scored yet another flawless century (120) to make his 8th Test century overall and the 6th in Chattogram.
West Indies bounced back after tea of day one through an explosive spell of fast bowling of Shannon Gabriel taking 4/26 in no time. Bangladesh tail-enders Taijul (31*), debutant Naeem (26) Mehidy Miraz( 22) batted sensibly adding 89 priceless runs. 324 on this wicket weighed more than 400.
Coming to bat West Indies confronted quality four pronged spin attack of Shakib, Taijul, Miraz and completely unknown teenager debutant Naeem Hasan. Of all of them, Naeem surprised tourists with high quality off accurate off spin taking 5/62 as tourists struggled scoring 246.
Two aggressive innings of Hetmyer (63) and Dorwich (63*) salvaged the innings from total disarray. Left arm spinner Warrican took 4/62 and fast bowler Gabriel took 4/70.
Bangladesh coming to bat with 78 runs ahead fell into immediate disaster. West Indies spinners exploited the condition very smartly. At stumps on day two, Bangladesh was looking shaky at 55/5 with a lead of only 133 runs.
However, on day-3, Mahmudullah (31*) and Miraz (18) extended the lead to 203. Bangladesh could reach 125 all out. Bishoo (4/26) and Chase (3/18) were main destroyers.
With not even 50% of Test rolled, a target of 204 is usually considered a cake walk for a Test team.
But the condition of the wicket and horses for the courses Bangladesh spinners soon took the wind out of tourist’s sail. In no time, Shakib and Taijul crushed them to 11/4.
They could never come out from that hole. Ambris and Warrican tried to strike out. But their best efforts in the 9th wicket partnership could only put some butterflies in Shakib’s stomach.
West Indies was all out 139 and lost the Test eventually by 64 runs. Taijul had another 6 wickets haul. Shakib and Miraz were his partners in destruction.
Some significant milestones were created in the Test. Shakib Al Hasan reaching 200 Test wickets mark became the quickest achieving the milestone of 200 Test wickets and over 3000 Test runs in 54 Tests.
He eclipsed the record of legendary Sir Ian Botham performing it in 55 Tests.
November 25 is incidentally birth day of the great English all-rounder.
Teenager debutant Naeem Hasan taking 5/62 in the first innings became the youngest player taking 5 wickets on debut. He eclipsed the record held by Pat Cummins of Australia. Mominul equaled the 4 Test hundreds scored by Virat Kohli in 2018.
Both Mominul and Kohli have opportunities for adding more in 2018. Taijul taking 40 Test wickets in 2018 has opportunity for taking highest wickets in 2018 if he takes more than 6 in Dhaka Test.
Individual records become immaterial if team does not win. However, Bangladesh won the Test that is why these records tasted special for all four Bangladeshi performers.
In conclusion, we must say that the differences of the two teams in Chattogram were definitely exemplary batting by Mominul in the first innings and great character shown in the bat by Bangladesh tail enders. Both team exploited the bowling condition to the best of their ability.
Bangladesh has definite issues with opening batsmen and inconsistent middle order. Have to consider few options. Mustafiz is a quality pace bowler. On a wicket where Gabriel and Roach bowled extremely well, Mustafiz was a mere pedestrian. If he is not required Bangladesh should give him rest for freshening up for ODI and T20 series.