Stumps Bangladesh 213 for 3 (Shadman 99*, Hridoy 42, Warrican 2-33) vs West Indies
Shadman Islam finished the first day of the Dhaka Test against West Indies tantalisingly unbeaten on 99 after bad light interrupted the final session. When stumps were finally called, Bangladesh were 213 for 3, with Shadman having batted through the 74-over day.
His effort was only the 20th instance of a batter ending a day's play unbeaten on 99 in Test cricket, with Mushfiqur Rahim's effort against Ireland last year the previous instance and the only other one involving a Bangladesh batter. All 19 previous instances have ended with the batter going on to complete a century.
Play was first halted at 3.16pm local time and the players returned after a 50-minute interruption. It was called off again at 4.22pm as Shadman moved from 96 to 99 in the four overs of play. West Indies captain Roston Chase had attempted to bring on a fast bowler before the first interruption, but the umpires deemed the light insufficient for pace bowling.
Shadman faced 219 balls and struck ten fours, as he went off with Litton Das on 10*. Shortly before the first break due to bad light, Towhid Hridoy had to be stretchered off after suffering cramps in his left leg. The heat and humidity were already factors in the Dhaka Test, with Hridoy requiring treatment on the field before he could no longer continue.
Shadman was watchful from the start of the day, although his opening partner Tanzid Hasan was anything but. Tanzid scratched around for 22 balls before edging Jayden Seales, giving Justin Greaves a simple catch at second slip. Tanzid scored only 7, as his inconsistency in Test cricket continued. The West Indies fast bowlers found some movement and extra bounce with the new ball, making scoring difficult in the opening exchanges.
Shadman, though, held his own at the other end, adding 59 runs for the second wicket with Mominul Haque. Shadman rode the bounce well as he climbed into short balls, and remained tight around off stump. Mominul, though, fell playing a potentially-needless shot before the lunch break, when he advanced down the pitch and sliced a catch to Shamar Joseph at mid-off off Jomel Warrican. Bangladesh went to lunch on 96 for 2.
Shadman reached his half-century shortly after the lunch interval, before Bangladesh lost their captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. He missed Warrican's drifting delivery from over the wicket while attempting a paddle sweep, falling lbw after a successful review by Roston Chase. He scored 19 off 42 balls, leaving Bangladesh on 110 for 3.
Hridoy started off watchfully too, hitting a couple of boundaries off Joseph, including a powerful pull shot. Shadman found Greaves' pace to his liking, often driving him through the covers before glancing him towards fine leg. The pair steadied Bangladesh after Shanto's dismissal, with Shadman taking few risks and Hridoy gradually becoming more comfortable against the spinners. Bangladesh reached tea on 177 for 3.
After tea, Shadman continued his vigil, though he peppered a few boundaries. He pulled Chase's half-tracker through midwicket before hitting a cover drive off debutant Joshua Bishop, who had extracted sharp turn on occasions. Hridoy, meanwhile, was increasingly troubled by cramps and struggled to complete his singles before finally going down in the 66th over.
Hridoy was stretchered off when he was on 42 off 84 balls. He added 88 runs for the fourth wicket with Shadman, Bangladesh's biggest partnership of the day, although he can return to the crease when he is fit.
Litton, who was only passed fit ahead of the game after his hip injury, struck a four through backward point before the umpires took the players off due to bad light for the first time. When play resumed, Shadman managed three more runs but could not get the single he needed to reach his century before the light deteriorated again.
Warrican was the best bowler of the day for West Indies, taking 2 for 33, while Seales took the other wicket. Bishop went wicketless on debut but troubled the batters with his turn, as West Indies were made to work hard for their three wickets.