Tigers edge dramatic day

A century, a pace-induced collapse and a lower-order counterattack -- the first day of the first Test between Bangladesh and West Indies had all the ingredients for a great day of cricket in Chattogram yesterday. At the end of the day, however, it was the hosts who will feel that they have the edge as, after Mominul Haque's eighth ton that took him level with Tamim Iqbal for the most by a Bangladeshi, lower-order batsmen Taijul Islam and debutant Nayeem Hasan took the score to 315 for eight at stumps.

Taijul was unbeaten on 32 and Nayeem batting on 24 in an unbroken 56-run ninth-wicket stand.

On what looks likely to become a raging turner over the next four days at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, and with four spinners in the Bangladesh lineup, the score may already have become a touch too hot to handle for the visitors who are known to be vulnerable against spin.

But half an hour into the last session, which started with Bangladesh on a formidable 216 for three, a four-wicket burst from fast bowler Shannon Gabriel promised a happier end to the day for the visitors.

For the first two sessions, Gabriel was the proverbial sleeping giant as he was a touch wayward in his quest for extra pace and came in for punishment, particularly from Mominul. But after the tea break the big fast bowler found his radar and a bit of reverse swing. Mominul started the slide by succumbing to the temptation he had avoided for 166 prior deliveries as he chased after a wide ball from Gabriel in the 60th over to give wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich his third catch of the innings. Mominul walked back for 120 -- which included 10 fours and a six -- but at 222 for four Bangladesh were still in charge.

That changed in the same over when a sharp inswinger caught Mushfiqur Rahim in front, and Gabriel completely changed the complexion by getting Mahmudullah Riyad and Shakib Al Hasan in his next two overs, completing a collapse of four wickets for 13 runs in 4.3 overs. Mahmudullah was beaten by pace and inward movement to be bowled for three and Shakib failed to get behind the line of the ball as he too was bowled, albeit with the help of an inside edge. Mehedi Hasan Miraz was then bowled with the score on 259 for eight, completely squared up by a big turner from left-armer spinner Jomel Warrican. By the end of the day, however, that sharp turn will give off-spinner Mehedi more encouragement for today's ventures.

Earlier, Shakib won the toss and gave his team first use of a pitch that looked likely to deteriorate as the match wore on. However, Bangladesh's opening travails continued as a ball just outside off stump from Kemar Roach, the third of the match, took a thin edge off Soumya Sarkar's bat and nestled in keeper Shane Dowrich's glove, ending the left-hander's first innings back in Test cricket after more than a year for a three-ball duck.

Roach could also have accounted for Imrul Kayes in the fifth over when the opener, on three, defensively chased at a ball that started outside off stump and edged it to second slip, where Roston Chase dropped a simple chance. Even as Imrul looked unsure, Mominul proved equal to the task, hitting a brace of boundaries in the sixth over from Gabriel to get moving on his favourite ground. The intent was to play the ball on merit and cash in on anything loose and despite leaving many more balls, he reached his fifty off just 69 deliveries in the 24th over.

Imrul enjoyed another life on 17 when he was caught off a no-ball in the 13th over off left-arm spinner Warrican, but his good fortune ran out when he was caught at short leg off the same bowler for 44, ending the 104-run stand as Bangladesh went to lunch on 105 for two in 27 overs.

After the break, it was Mominul's turn to enjoy the rub of the green when he pushed forward to leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo in the 35th over only for Dowrich to drop the edge behind the stumps. That shot and the one he eventually fell to were exceptions to the norm of playing on merit. That much could not be said of Mohammad Mithun, who proved that he was not yet ready for a top-order position when he went for a wild heave off Bishoo in the 43rd over. The resultant top edge was gratefully accepted by Dowrich as Bangladesh lost their third wicket with 153 on the board.

In the company of Shakib, Mominul carried on in serene fashion even as Bishoo started getting sharp turn. On 91 in the 49th over, he hit Bishoo for a big six over wide long on and brought up his eighth Test century with a cut past point for four off Chase.

The duo played out the next seven overs without trouble as the hosts went in for a relaxing cup of tea on 216 for three, with little clue about the drama to follow.