Dhaka – Bangladesh whitewashed touring West Indies 2-0 registering their first-ever innings victory beating the visitors by an innings and 184 runs in the 2nd and final Test that concluded before the tea break on the 3rd day at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday.It was a sweet revenge of Bangladesh in a spinning platter wicket for their 0-2 defeat against the West Indies in the Caribbean Islands five months ago in July last in a pace-dominated series. Bangladesh spinners grabbed all the 40 wickets in the just concluded two-match Test series.
Wrapping the visitors for 111 and 213 runs in the two innings of the second and final Test of the two-match series, the Tigers clinched their biggest-ever Test win by completing a clean sweep with first-ever innings victory against the Caribbean by 2-0.
Bangladesh’s previous biggest Test win came in 2005 when they outclassed Zimbabwe in Chattogram by 218 runs and was also the first-ever Test win of the Tigers.
The latest series triumph is Bangladesh’s second Test series win over the Caribbean boys as they beat them for the first time in 2009, and this is Bangladesh’s first win in four years as well.
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, who returned to international cricket with the West Indies series after finger injury was adjudged man of the series for his all-round performances in the two-match series. Shakib scored 115 runs and took nine wickets in the series.
After winning the 2nd Test to complete a series win over the West Indies on Sunday, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said they had many things to prove in the series.
He indicated to their humiliating series defeat against the same opponent in July last.
“They managed to utilise their home advantage in July, and now we did it in our home. We had many things to prove after losing to them in an awkward way. I would love to thank all of my teammates because we have done it,” Shakib said at the post-match press conference after outplaying the West Indies inside three days.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz returned with the best bowling figure in a Test for the Tigers taking 12 wickets conceding 117 runs to be adjudged man of the match. He bettered his own record of taking 12 wickets for 159 runs against England in 2016. Miraz ended the year of 2018 taking 41 Test wickets.
“I’ve bowled in right areas consistently which was the key to my success in the series,” Miraz said at the post-match press meet while revealing the reasons behind his success.
Bangladesh spin arsenal played the centre role to tumble the West Indians. In their first innings, Miraz recorded his best bowling figure in a Test innings taking seven for 58 for the first time. Shakib Al Hasan took the other three wickets of the visitors.
And in the second innings, Miraz took another five-for to become Bangladesh’s second bowler after Shakib Al Hasan to take five or more wickets in both innings of a Test twice.
Shirmon Hetmyer was the only West Indian to fight back as he scored 93 in the second innings after posting 39 in the first innings. But, his effort went in vain as other West Indies batsmen failed to show any intention to avoid an embarrassing defeat.
Earlier, Bangladesh posted 508 runs on the board in the first innings of the match as Mahmudullah Riayd recorded his best Test knock of 136 runs. The hosts took a huge step to win the match adding a mammoth total in the first innings, and eventually, they won the match to create a new history.
Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulated the Bangladesh cricket team, players and officials on their Test series win against touring West Indies.UNB
