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West Indies dominated the first session of the fourth day of the Sylhet Test, adding 121 runs for the loss of two wickets to take a 98-run lead over Bangladesh.
Resuming the day without losing a wicket, the visitors batted confidently and aggressively, taking full advantage of a lacklustre performance by Bangladesh’s pace attack.
The opening partnership between Joshua Da Silva and Brandon King quickly took the team past the 50-run mark. Bangladesh finally broke through in the 22nd over when spinner Taijul Islam trapped Da Silva leg-before for 36, ending an 85-run stand off 129 balls.
King, meanwhile, continued his aggressive approach and brought up a quick half-century. He was dropped on 56 by Towhid Hridoy at short cover but could not capitalise on the reprieve for long.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz dismissed King for a brilliant 61 off 84 balls, with Najmul Hossain Shanto taking the catch at slip.
Taijul and Miraz claimed one wicket each, but West Indies maintained control until the end of the opening session.
At the crease, Kavem Hodge was unbeaten on 30, while debutant Kevin Wickham was yet to open his account.
While bowlers enjoyed some assistance from the pitch during the first two days, conditions have increasingly favoured batters since the previous day. Following Towhid Hridoy’s historic innings, the West Indies batters have also made the most of the favourable conditions.
