Dhaka – Centurion Mominul Haque boosted Bangladesh’s first day’s score of 315/8* at stumps in the first innings against visiting West Indies in the first Test of a two-match series at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here in Chattogram on Thursday.Seventeen-year-old debutant spinner Nayeem Hasan [24* off 60b; 2×4] and left-handed spinner Taijul Islam [32* off 57b; 3×4; 1×6] were sharing a partnership of 56* off 95 balls in the ninth stand when the bails were drawn for the first day.
Bangladesh’sinnings of 88 overs [26.5-31.1-30] with the last over played under floodlight for a total of 315*[105-111-99] in three sessions seemed a heavy-curved statistical wave where Mominul Haque [120] and opener Imrul Kayes [44] were notable scorers for the side.
Mominul faced 167 balls to fire 10 boundaries and one six, and was caught behind by Shane Dowrich off Shannon Gabriel in the day’s third session at 222/4 in 59.3 overs.
The southpaw of Cox’s Bazar shared a 69 off 17 overs in the fourth stand with all-rounder skipper Shakib Al Hasan [34 off 68b; 2×4] and contributed in another partnership innings of 104 off 26.2 overs with opener Imrul Kayes in the second stand.
Mominul completed his eighth Test century, crossing the 100-run mark with a boundary off Roston Chase to reach 102 form 98 runs in the innings 49.3 overs, when Bangladesh collected 183/3 during the first day’s second session.
Opening the innings with the bat after winning the toss, Bangladesh suffered an early loss of Soumya Sarkar with a duck on one run in the innings and on the very third ball before Mominul-Kayes built up the second stand partnership.
Kayes played an innings of 87 balls and hit five boundaries before being caught by Sunil Ambris off Jomel Warrican just before the lunch break, carrying the team collection to 105/2 in 26.5 overs by the second pair contribution.
The hosts lost only one wicket –Mohammad Mithun [20 off 50b; 2×4] – to play the innings up to the tea break, raising the tally to 216/3 in 58 overs from 105/2 in 26.5 overs.
Then the home side suffered a quick fall in the third session as the Windies pace bowler Shannon Gabriel scalped the next four batsmen — Mominul, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, and Shakib — within a span of 13 off 4.2 overs. All the four were out in-between 222/4 in 59.3 overs to 235/7 in 63.5 overs.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz [22 off 31b; 3×4] was another double-digit scorer for Bangladesh.
Soumya, who returned for Test after around a one year break -joined Test last in October 2017, played just two balls and was caught behind by Shane Dowrich off Kemar Roach.
Jomel Warrican [4/69], Jomel Warrican[2/62], Kemar Roach [1/55] and Devendra Bishoo [1/60] shared eight wickets for the Windies.UNB
