DHAKA: Nkrumah Bonner was making up for lost time with his second successive half-century as West Indies ground out 223-5 against Bangladesh on day one of the second Test here at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Thursday.
Bonner was 74 not out and wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva was with him on 22 after an even first day.
Captain Kraigg Brathwaite contributed 47 and fellow opener John Campbell 36 but the West Indies were bunkered down in the face of relentlessly disciplined bowling. The home team had the initiative until the unbeaten 45-run, no-risk stand by Bonner and Da Silva to see out the day.
How long Bonner lasts will be the key to West Indies’ innings, with a 300 total looking imposing. After almost a decade out of the national setup, his 86 on debut last weekend helped West Indies win the first Test in a remarkable comeback.
After opting to bat first, Brathwaite and Campbell shared a decent 66-run start.
Campbell cut off-spinner Mehidy Hasan past point for a boundary to begin his scoring on his 12th ball faced. Campbell also struck off-spinner Nayeem Hasan for a six over long on. But with West Indies appearing untroubled, Campbell gave up his wicket when he was trapped plumb trying to sweep left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.
Campbell reviewed in vain. His 68-ball innings included five fours and one six.
The bowlers regrouped well after lunch to take three wickets.
Fast bowler Abu Jayed was rewarded for hitting the right length consistently with Shayne Moseley’s wicket for 7, after which Brathwaite perished to a cut shot off Soumya Sarkars medium pace, three runs short of his 21st Test half-century.
Kayle Mayers, the first batsman to score a double century in the fourth innings on debut in the first Test, was out for 5 driving at Jayed and giving an outside edge to the slips.
West Indies were in trouble at 116-4 but Bonner engineered a recovery, first with Jermaine Blackwood. Their 62-run for the fifth wicket lasted until Blackwood was caught and bowled by Taijul Islam for 28.
Bonner brought up his half-century driving a Taijul delivery to long off for a single off 98 balls. But in the face of good bowling, he opted for a defensive approach, which paid off for him. His 173-ball-knock so far includes six boundaries.
Jayed and Taijul have two wickets each.
Scoreboard
WEST INDIES (1st Innings):
Kraigg Brathwaite c Najmul b Soumya47 John Campbell lbw b Taijul36 Shayne Moseley b Jayed7 Nkrumah Bonner not out74 Kyle Mayers c Soumya b Jayed5 Jermaine Blackwood c & b Taijul28 Joshua Da Silva not out22 EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-2)4 TOTAL (for five wkts, 90 overs)223 STILL TO BAT: Rahkeem Cornwall, Alzarri Joseph, Jomel Warrican, Shannon Gabriel FALL OF WKTS: 1-66, 2-87, 3-104, 4-116, 5-178 BOWLING (to-date): Jayed 18-5-46-2; Mehidy 22-5-39-0; Nayeem 12-1-42-0; Taijul 30-5-64-2 (2nb); Soumya 8-1-30-1 UMPIRES: Richard Illingworth (England), Sharfuddoula Saikat (Bangladesh) TV UMPIRE: Gazi Sohel (Bangladesh) MATCH REFEREE: Neeyamur Rashid Rahul (Bangladesh)
