Justin Greaves showcased a career-defining performance, scoring an unbeaten 115 to lead West Indies to a commanding 450-9 declared on day two of the first Test against Bangladesh.
The visitors ended the day at 40-2, trailing by 410 runs as West Indies’ pace attack struck early blows under fading light.
Greaves, playing only his third Test, entered the spotlight with a composed knock off 206 deliveries, featuring just four boundaries. His innings was a masterclass in resilience and running between the wickets, coming to the rescue after West Indies wavered at 261-7.
Sharing a crucial 140-run eighth-wicket partnership with Kemar Roach (47), Greaves turned the game firmly in West Indies’ favor.
Roach, better known for his bowling, batted for over four hours in his highest Test score, offering invaluable support.
Greaves’ form was not entirely unforeseen; he had earlier smashed three consecutive centuries in domestic one-day matches, signaling a breakthrough. His patient approach, which included scoring over half his runs in singles and twos, ensured West Indies capitalized on the foundation laid by Mikyle Louis (97) and Alick Athanaze (90) on day one.
Bangladesh’s bowlers, led by Hasan Mahmud (3-95), initially applied pressure, removing Joshua Da Silva and Alzarri Joseph early in the day. However, they struggled to finish off the tail, with Mahmud missing a potential edge off Greaves’ bat that went unappealed. Taskin Ahmed and the spinners, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, endured long spells without impactful breakthroughs, highlighting the West Indies’ dominance.
When West Indies declared, their pace quartet wasted no time. Jayden Seales dismissed Zakir Hasan (15) with an under-edge onto the stumps, while Alzarri Joseph removed Mahmudul Hasan Joy (5), who was earlier dropped. Bangladesh closed at 40-2, with Shahadat Hossain (10*) and Mominul Haque (7*) tasked with rebuilding on day three.
Kemar Roach, reflecting on his partnership with Greaves, praised his compatriot: “Justin showed incredible composure. We’ve known each other for years, and that understanding made the difference today.”
As West Indies eye victory, Bangladesh faces a daunting task to bridge the 410-run deficit and salvage the game. Day three promises high drama as the hosts aim to maintain their momentum, while Bangladesh seeks a turnaround.