Having dominated the match until that last hour or so, the Tigers suddenly pushed the self-destruct button and lost four wickets in the space of nine runs and were precariously placed on 94 for six in their second innings with a 158-run lead.

The damage was done by part-time legspinner Ramnaresh Sarwan, who followed up his 3-59 in the first innings with a spell of three for 22 off eight overs including two wickets in successive balls.

Opener Hannan Sarker (9) made the fatal error of leaving the ball for the second time in the match and was bowled by Fidel Edwards. There was more trouble when Javed Omar was caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs for seven.

Captain Habibul Bashar began where he had left off and his opposite number Brian Lara had to put a backward square leg, a fine leg and a squarish mid-wicket to neutralise the compulsive puller. But Bashar was undeterred and continued to play his natural strokes and even pierced the leg-side field. He also drove Jermaine Lawson straight down the ground for four to make his intentions clear.

Bashar had nicely moved on to 25 with Rajin Saleh giving him solid support when disaster struck. Bashar tried to pull a short delivery in Tino Best's first over but the ball never got up to the height expected and shattered his stump.

Then Sarwan turned the tables upside down when he had Mohammad Ashraful (1) caught in two minds with a knee-high full toss, which the batsman tamely played back into the hands of the leg-spinner.

Now suddenly Sarwan was getting prodigious turn and the ball was keeping alarmingly low. In his next over debutant Faisal Hossain drove without a care in the world and Chris Gayle took a simple catch at slip as Bangladesh were reduced to 79-5.

Very next ball Mushfiqur Rahman padded forward but was adjudged leg before. TV replays confirmed that Mushfiq was a little unlucky as the ball pitched marginally outside the leg-stump.

Khaled Mashud (8 not out) saw out the hattrick ball and was giving Saleh (34 not out) company when lights were offered and the batsmen happily accepted.

Manager and acting coach Faruque Ahmed and Bashar were livid at the collapse.

"I have no explanation for this. It is happening far too often to be called a coincidence. Some of us have to be more responsible," said Bashar.

Faruque was more forthright.

"I believe the days of making them understand are over. We have talked about this on numerous occasions. I think there comes a period when those who can get it into their heads and work accordingly get away from those who don't and move forward. We are approaching that period."

Faruque however said that the team was looking forward to batting as long as possible on the fifth day and had set a target of eking out another 80-100 runs for the remaining wickets.

Earlier in the day the Bangladeshi bowlers wiped off the West Indies tail after lunch following a barren morning session where only one hour of play was possible.

The West Indies, resuming on 262 for five, were all out for 352.

Tapash Baisya finally removed Gayle who was caught by Bashar at first slip in his second attempt. Gayle made 141 off 293 balls and put on 59 for the sixth wicket with Jacobs.

When Bashar brought Moha-mmad Rafique into the attack, he was immediately struck. Tino Best danced down the wicket to the left-arm spinner's third ball which was held back a bit by Rafique, missed it and was bowled. It was Rafique's third wicket of the innings.

Mushfiq then took the last three wickets, forcing Collins and Lawson to edge to slips and having Edwards lbw leaving Jacobs unbeaten on 46.

The all-rounder finished with four for 65 from 25.4 overs, his best bowling figures.