West Indies on verge of victory
Fast bowlers Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales took West Indies to the brink of victory in the first Test in Antigua on Monday, taking three wickets each to reduce Bangladesh to 109-7 in their second innings when bad light put an end to the fourth day.
Chasing 334 to win the match, Bangladesh will go into Tuesday's final day still 225 runs short of victory and with just three wickets in hand.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. After bowling the home side out for 152 in their second innings, Bangladesh made the worst possible start to their chase when Roach bowled opener Zakir Hasan off an inside edge with the fifth ball of the innings.
Fellow opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy then edged Seales to Justin Greaves at third slip before Roach snapped Shahadat Hossain and Mominul Haque in quick succession to leave Bangladesh reeling at 23-4.
Litton Das led a mini-recovery but when he fell to Shamar Joseph, who saw four catches go down off his bowling, for 22, the visitors were in deep trouble at 59-5.
Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz went on the counter-attack with a 46-ball 45 before edging Seales to Joshua Da Silva behind the stumps. In his next over, Seales bowled Taijul Islam to end the day with 3-31.
Roach had 3-20.
Earlier, Bangladesh threw an early surprise by declaring their first innings at their overnight total of 269-9, even though they still trailed by 181 runs.
The West Indies responded by going after quick runs to build on their lead. It did not go quite according to plan as they were skittled for 152, Alick Athanaze top-scoring with 42.
Opening bowler Taskin Ahmed was the man to profit, his 6-64 giving him a first ever five wicket haul in Test cricket.
Taskin's six-for sets up thrilling end
Bangladesh continued to garner momentum in their favour after Lunch on the fourth day of the first Test against the West Indies in Antigua on Monday, with pacer Taskin Ahmed claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in the format.
Playing his 15th Test, Taskin spearheaded the attack as the hosts were bowled out for 152 in 46.1 overs in their second innings, leaving the visitors a 334-run target with four sessions left in the encounter at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Starting the day by declaring their first innings at the overnight score of 269 for nine, the Tigers focused on leveraging the early morning conditions -- a decision that paid dividends.
Taskin struck a double blow early, while Shoriful Islam complemented his efforts by dismissing skipper Kraigg Brathwaite before the Lunch interval as the West Indies reached 61 for three at Lunch.
Post-Lunch, Taskin picked up four more, including the first-innings centurion Justin Greaves, ending up with figures of 6-64 in 14.1 overs. Captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz picked up two wickets, while fellow spinner Taijul Islam scalped one.
Taskin, Shoriful strike in morning session
Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed struck twice and Shoriful Islam picked up one to reduce the West Indies to three down for 39 after 12 overs in the morning session on Day 4 of the first Test against the West Indies at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Monday.
Taskin removed opener Mikyle Louis (8) and top-order batter Keacy Carty (3), while Shoriful dismissed Windies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (23).
Taskin gets third time lucky
Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed was denied a wicket in back-to-back deliveries in the morning session on Day 4 of the first Test against the West Indies at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Monday but got third time lucky as he dismissed opener Mikyle Louis.
Taskin could have had both Windies openers -- Kraigg Brathwaite and Louis -- back in the hut had it not been for Shahadat Hossain Dipu and a misjudged review.
Dipu fluffed an easy opportunity at first slip in the third over of the innings to give Brathwaite a reprieve and the next ball, an angled-in delivery, hit the front pad of Louis which was given not out by the umpire. Replays later showed that it would've hit the stumps.
After 10 overs, West Indies were 34-1.
Earlier, Bangladesh declared their innings at 269-9 in response to West Indies' 450-9d.
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