Bangladesh made crucial incisions in the second session on Day 2 of the Antigua Test even as West Indies stretched their lead thanks to Jermaine Blackwood’s half-century.
Kraigg Brathwaite’s 94 and Jermaine Blackwood’s 63 helped West Indies take a 162-run lead on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh, after having bowled them out for 103 on Day 1.
Brathwaite, who began the day on 42 batted brilliantly but fell just six runs short of his century, while Blackwood did well to hold on to one end as wickets fell at the other before being dismissed by Khaled Ahmed.
Brathwaite and Bonner were wary at the start of the first session, playing out a few maidens. Ebadot Hossain even had one hold the line to Bonner, with replays later revealing that there was a small spike, but the Bangladesh players did not appeal.
Brathwaite scored a four and a couple off Ebadot to help West Indies into the lead while Bonner pulled a short delivery from Khaled Ahmed for his first four of the day.
Bonner had another lucky break as a short of a length delivery from Khaled took the shoulder of his bat but Najmul Hossain Shanto did not move at first slip as he watched the ball go past him for a four.
Brathwaite then brought up a 174-ball fifty while the third wicket pair also extended the partnership past 50 as West Indies entered the lead.
While West Indies got through the first hour without losing any wicket, Shakib Al Hasan struck in the first over after the drinks interval.
Bonner failed to pick a straight delivery from the left-arm spinner and was bowled for 33, which ended a partnership worth 62 runs.
The spinners bowled 11 overs in tandem, conceding only 17 runs. Blackwood was off the mark with a boundary off the first ball he faced, driving against the spin of Mehidy Hasan through cover.
Brathwaite played an uncharacteristic swipe across the line to a Shakib delivery for a four to midwicket fence. Apart from these boundaries, both batters went about it in a measured manner while Brathwaite also had a reprieve as the fielder at short leg missed a tough chance in a Mehidy over.
Ebadot, reintroduced into the attack, found the outside edge of Blackwood’s bat but the ball landed short of slip and went for a four. Brathwaite then slogged across the line again to a Shakib delivery for another four. Ebadot and Najmul bowled maidens leading into Lunch, with the fourth wicket pair having added 25 runs.
Mustafizur Rahman, who bowled only two overs in the morning, was back with the second new ball soon after Lunch. But he was struck for a four apiece by Blackwood and Brathwaite, who also kept a steady flow of singles and twos to bring up a half-century stand.
The partnership grew to 63 before Brathwaite was trapped leg-before by a Khaled Ahmed delivery.
The ball kept a touch low and the West Indies captain, looking to work it to the leg-side, missed making any contact as he was dismissed in the 90s for the fifth time in his Test career.
Their efforts saw them post a first-innings score of 265. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh, with four scalps to his name.
On Day 1, Jayden Seales and Alzarri Joseph struck thrice each, while Kemar Roach and Kyle Mayers picked two wickets apiece to run the Bangladesh batters ragged at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua.
Then, Mustafizur Rahman got John Campbell out for 24 and Ebadot Hossain sent Raymon Reifer packing for 11. But Kraigg Brathwaite and Nkrumah Bonner took West Indies to within eight runs of Bangladesh’s total at Stumps.