Greaves’ Maiden Century Puts West Indies in Command….
SPECIAL CENTURY FROM JUSTIN GREAVES AND LATE EVENING WICKETS PUT WEST INDIES IN CONTROL OF FIRST TEST AGAINST BANGLADESH
A brilliant maiden Test century from Justin Greaves, along with a burst of wickets in the late evening session, has given the West Indies a firm grip on the first Test against Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. The West Indies, after being asked to bat first, put together a commanding total of 375/8 by the close of Day 2, with Greaves playing the anchor role for the visitors. The day ended with Bangladesh at a precarious 45/3, still 330 runs behind, after a stunning late surge from the West Indian bowlers.
Day 2: West Indies Take Charge
The day began with the West Indies resuming their innings at 179/3, with Greaves at the crease on an overnight score of 82, accompanied by wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich. The pitch, which had provided some assistance to the spinners on the first day, appeared to settle down somewhat, allowing the West Indies batsmen to find some rhythm. However, Bangladesh’s spinners, led by Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan, were still very much in the game.
Greaves Shows Resilience with Maiden Test Century
Justin Greaves, who had shown great patience on Day 1, continued to display an impressive blend of concentration and technique as he inched towards his maiden Test century. The 27-year-old from Barbados, who had previously shown promise in limited-overs cricket, was now proving his worth at the highest level.
Greaves, who had been in and out of the West Indies team for the past few years, played with maturity, carefully rotating the strike while also punishing anything loose. His first 50 runs had come at a relatively slow pace, but once he reached the 80s, Greaves shifted gears, accelerating towards his century with a series of crisp boundaries. His landmark moment came in the 94th over, when he drove a ball from Taijul Islam through the covers for four, raising his bat to a warm applause from his teammates and the small but appreciative crowd in Chattogram.
It had been a knock of resilience and calm, characteristic of a player who knew the importance of building a long innings on foreign soil. His ability to play both the defensive and attacking roles with equal comfort was on full display, particularly against the challenging spinners.
By the time he reached three figures, Greaves had faced 213 balls, hitting 12 fours. His batting had provided the West Indies with much-needed stability in a tricky period of the match. The West Indies had lost quick wickets on Day 1, and Greaves’ century was a statement of intent that the visitors were ready to take control.
Dowrich Provides Support, But West Indies Lose Key Wickets
While Greaves held the fort, Shane Dowrich, who had looked solid since his arrival at the crease, fell shortly after Greaves reached his century. Dowrich (45) was caught behind off the bowling of Mehidy Hasan, a delivery that took the outside edge. His dismissal brought the West Indies to 295/4.
Following Dowrich’s departure, the middle order crumbled under pressure. First, Roston Chase (22) was trapped lbw by Taijul Islam, and then the West Indies lost a quick succession of wickets in the final session of the day. Blackwood (14) and captain Kraigg Brathwaite (8) both fell cheaply to Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam respectively, as the Bangladesh spinners mounted a spirited fightback.
However, Greaves continued to stand firm, and his resilience in the final overs, together with some useful contributions from the tailenders, helped the West Indies push their total to 375/8 by the close of play. Despite the late wickets, Greaves remained at the crease, unbeaten on 115, a knock that had given his team a substantial foundation.
Bangladesh’s Response: Early Struggles and West Indian Control
As the West Indies bowlers took the field in the final session of the day, they immediately imposed themselves on the Bangladesh batsmen, who were visibly rattled by the late collapse of their opponents.
Early Losses Set Bangladesh Back
The first wicket to fall in Bangladesh’s innings came in the third over of their reply, with left-arm pacer Kemar Roach striking early. Roach, who had been the pick of the bowlers on Day 1, found the edge of the bat from Shadman Islam (4), and wicketkeeper Dowrich took a sharp catch. Bangladesh, reeling at 5/1, had lost an early wicket to put them on the back foot.
Roach’s success continued as he picked up the key scalp of Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, in the next session. Shakib, looking to drive a delivery that nipped back into him, was clean bowled for just 10 runs. Roach’s delivery had just enough movement to clip the stumps, leaving the Bangladesh top order in disarray at 20/2.
At the other end, Jason Holder, the West Indian captain, was able to maintain pressure, bowling with pace and control. Holder, often one of the most underappreciated all-rounders in world cricket, troubled Bangladesh’s top order with his swing and bounce. Holder’s disciplined line and length meant that the Bangladesh batsmen were forced into mistakes, and their frustration grew as runs became hard to come by.
Mushfiqur Rahim Resists, But Pressure Mounts
With the top order crumbling, Bangladesh’s hopes rested heavily on their experienced middle-order duo of Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das. Mushfiqur (18) showed signs of resistance, playing a patient knock as he tried to steady the innings. However, in the 18th over of Bangladesh’s reply, the West Indies made another breakthrough, this time with Roach trapping Mushfiqur leg before wicket.
Bangladesh, now struggling at 40/3, were in deep trouble. The West Indies bowlers had made early inroads, and Bangladesh found themselves in a precarious situation with just two days of play remaining.
West Indies’ Bowling Unit Impressive
The standout performance with the ball so far had come from Kemar Roach, who had taken 3 wickets for 15 runs in his 9 overs, proving that pace and discipline could be just as effective on a pitch that had shown some signs of turning. Roach had been lethal with the new ball, and his ability to extract movement off the surface had made him a handful for the Bangladeshi batsmen.
Roach’s wickets included both openers—Shadman Islam and Shakib Al Hasan—and the crucial scalp of Mushfiqur Rahim. Alongside Roach, Jason Holder, with his steady line and length, had been effective in keeping the pressure on the Bangladesh batsmen, while Alzarri Joseph, though wicketless, had provided support by consistently testing the batsmen with pace and bounce.
The West Indian spinners, led by the ever-reliable Rahkeem Cornwall, were yet to bowl in significant quantities, but their role would likely be crucial in the coming days as the pitch began to show signs of wear. Cornwall, with his off-spin, has been a key figure in the West Indies’ bowling attack in recent years, and his role on the third day would be critical in helping the visitors maintain their dominance.
Looking Ahead: West Indies Well-Positioned
As Day 2 drew to a close, the West Indies found themselves in a commanding position, with Bangladesh requiring a monumental effort to get back into the match. With the pitch likely to offer more assistance to the spinners as the game progresses, the West Indies would be confident that their lead would grow even further. Greaves’ century had given them a solid foundation, and with their bowlers in excellent form, they had the opportunity to push for an early victory.
For Bangladesh, the road ahead is difficult. The loss of early wickets and the fragility of their top order has put them in a dire situation, and their batting depth will need to be tested if they are to survive the West Indian onslaught. Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das, along with the likes of Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan, will have to fight hard if they are to put together a resistance and make the West Indies bat again.
In the coming days, Bangladesh will be hoping for some magic from their lower order, while the West Indies will look to capitalize on their advantage and take full control of this first Test. With the match delicately poised, the next few sessions could prove pivotal in deciding the outcome of the contest.
