Bad light ended the second day of the Mirpur Test on Thursday, with the light failing ahead of schedule and West Indies 134 for four after 48 overs, 138 runs behind Bangladesh’s 272. Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz had hauled the hosts back into contention after a lengthy rain delay.
The turning point came soon after play resumed. Miraz drew John Campbell forward to a flighted delivery outside off, and Najmul Hossain Shanto dived at first slip to hold the edge, ending a 61-run stand that had lasted 152 balls.
Campbell, who had survived twice, made 54 from 74 balls with two sixes and six fours. His exit opened the door for Taijul, who had been rested after a costly start but returned with far sharper control.
Kavem Hodge went next for seven off 20 balls. He stepped forward without reaching the pitch of the ball, and Mominul Haque reacted smartly at silly point to take the catch. West Indies were 97 for three, still 175 behind.
Aamir Jangoo lasted three balls. After leaving the first two, he tried to sweep Taijul for six, mistimed it, and Tanzid Hasan sprinted in from the boundary to take a fine catch. It was a maiden over with two wickets, and Taijul’s 96th at Mirpur.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Justin Greaves then dug in. Taijul and Miraz kept a silly point and slips close and gave away little, but the pair still added 37 in the final 12 overs, Chanderpaul reaching 43 and Greaves 15.
The umpires took a light-meter reading after the 48th over and found it below their threshold, so the players walked off. With little hope of improvement, stumps were called early, the second day in a row bad light has interfered with play.
Campbell had laid the platform much earlier. On five, he was reprieved when Nayeem Hasan dropped a chance at backward point off Hasan Mahmud, and he survived again on 22 when Shoriful Islam was slow to react to a return catch.
He reached fifty from 61 balls by hitting Miraz for four and six in successive deliveries, his sixth Test half-century and third in a row. The four also took his partnership with Chanderpaul to 50.
West Indies began their reply without Litton Das behind the stumps after he was struck on the right elbow. Jaker Ali Anik kept as a substitute, and Hasan Mahmud found Brandon King’s edge to end a 29-run opening stand, King making 15.
Gloom soon settled over the ground, and with the floodlights on, the light fell below the threshold applied on day one. The players took an early tea at 2pm, with West Indies 89 for one from 27 overs, 183 behind. Rain began during the break.
The rain eased, but clouds lingered and the umpires inspected the field. Play restarted after nearly an hour, the sun even appearing briefly, with the umpires allowing an extra 30 minutes beyond the scheduled 4:30pm close if the light held.
Earlier, Bangladesh had resumed on 213 for three and lost seven wickets for 59 runs. Shadman Islam reached 101 with a two off debutant Joshua Bishop, who trapped him lbw an over later after he had waited unbeaten on 99 overnight.
Towhid Hridoy, stretchered off with cramps on day one, was bowled slogging across the line at Bishop. Litton and Miraz added 32 to pass 250 before Jomel Warrican bowled Miraz with a straight ball.
Litton battled on against variable bounce, but Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Taijul and Shoriful fell for five, six, one and nought. Bangladesh were bowled out in 97.3 overs with Litton stranded on 34. Warrican took five for 53, while Bishop and Shamar Joseph claimed two each.
Bangladesh’s morning collapse meant the evening fightback carried real weight, and it left West Indies with plenty still to do. Tagenarine Chanderpaul is unbeaten on 43 from 145 balls, with six fours, while Justin Greaves is not out on 15 from 22 deliveries.
Taijul Islam was the pick of the Bangladesh attack, finishing with two for 44 from 15 overs. Miraz gave away the same number of runs, one for 44 from 19 overs
Hasan Mahmud supplied the early breakthrough by dismissing King, while Nayeem Hasan conceded four runs from three overs and Shoriful Islam went wicketless.