Bangladesh bowlers toiled hard on the first day of the Antigua Test on Friday, picking up five West Indies wickets as Mikyle Louis and Alick Athanaze’s 140-run fourth-wicket stand put the hosts in control.
Both batsmen fell heartbreakingly short of centuries, with Louis dismissed for 97 after facing 27 balls in the nineties and Athanaze departing for 95, his second such dismissal in Tests.
The partnership revived the innings following a slow start, with the West Indies controlling play for over two sessions. Taskin Ahmed, who claimed two wickets, provided Bangladesh with an early breakthrough by trapping Kraigg Brathwaite lbw for 4 and then dismissing Keacy Carty for a duck.
Hasan Mahmud and Shoriful Islam troubled the batters with consistent lines, but Louis held firm, waiting for scoring opportunities. Shoriful, returning to Tests after a three-month break, was particularly effective with swing but remained wicketless.
Post-lunch, Louis and Kavem Hodge steadied the innings until a sharp throw from Taijul Islam ran Hodge out for 25. Louis reached his fifty with a straight drive, while Athanaze gradually increased the scoring rate, playing aggressive sweeps and cuts after tea. Louis launched the day’s first six but fell against the run of play, caught at slip off Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Three overs later, Taijul removed Athanaze, caught behind for 95.
Late in the day, Justin Greaves and Joshua Da Silva added quick runs against the second new ball before play ended early after 84 overs due to drizzle and poor light. Despite disciplined spells from Mehidy and Taijul, Bangladesh’s decision to bowl first yielded only modest returns, leaving them searching for breakthroughs heading into the second day.
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
