Hridoy gets maiden Test hundred, but wickets tumble around him
Towhid Hridoy reached his first Test century, but Bangladesh lost four wickets in the morning session of the third day against West Indies in Sylhet on Saturday.
They went to lunch on 205 for seven, still 151 runs behind West Indies’ first-innings 356.
Hridoy, who resumed on 29, was unbeaten on 100 at the break. He reached the landmark with a single off the first ball of the final over before lunch, a length delivery from Roston Chase that he worked towards square leg. Taijul Islam is his partner.
He removed his helmet, rested it on the handle of his bat and raised it to the dressing room. It was an innings built on patience and tidy strokeplay, and it arrived when Bangladesh needed it most. Chase then bowled five dot balls to Taijul to close the session.
Bangladesh scored 117 runs in 29 overs in the session, but the wickets undid much of the good work. Jomel Warrican was the main threat, taking the wickets of Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das with slow, flighted deliveries that tempted both batters into aggressive drives.
Hasan Mahmud was the last to fall, at 194 for seven after 65 overs. Warrican was confident of the appeal and Chase sent it upstairs. Replays showed the ball, which turned away after pitching around off stump, had brushed the bat.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz fell at 179 for six, out for 16 off 30 balls after looking comfortable. He set up early for a paddle sweep against Chase but could not keep the ball down, and Justin Greaves dived to his left at first slip to take a fine catch.
Litton had gone at 141 for five, giving a simple catch to Brandon King at cover for eight. Warrican bowled slightly fuller around off stump and Litton drove, the second time the left-arm spinner had set the same trap in the space of a few overs.
Hridoy had passed fifty by then, his first in Test cricket, off 109 balls with Bangladesh on 133 for four. He played a conventional game, giving the innings a solid base while wickets fell around him. Bangladesh trailed by 223 at that stage.
Mushfiqur had left at 129 for four after scoring 34. He drove at a flighted Warrican delivery from around the wicket, and King dived to his left at short cover to hold on. The fourth-wicket stand with Hridoy was worth 78.
Play had resumed on 88 for three, with Shamar Joseph and Warrican opening the bowling. Hridoy and Mushfiqur went past 100 in the first hour, taking the partnership past 50 before the middle order wobbled.
Bangladesh had finished the second day in trouble, losing three wickets for 51 runs against the new ball. Joseph and Jayden Seales posed a constant threat, and Roston Chase’s side closed on top with the hosts trailing by 268.
Nayeem Hasan, who opened for the first time in his career because of Shadman Islam’s ankle injury, was out for five, caught at slip by King off Seales. Tanzid Hasan followed for 16, holding out to Kevin Wickham at point off Greaves.
Najmul Hossain Shanto then added 29 with Hridoy before Joseph bowled him for 18, bringing Mushfiqur to the crease. West Indies had been bowled out for 356 earlier on the second day, Hasan Mahmud finishing with six for 90.