Sports reporter:
Bangladesh salvaged a draw in the second Test of the two-match series against West Indies as bad light brought an early end to the final session on the fifth day at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium yesterday..
The departure of Towhid Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim in quick succession after the tea break raised hopes for the visitors of clinching the series 2-0, following their eight-wicket victory in the Mirpur Test. However, bad light denied West Indies any chance of a dramatic finish.
Shamar Joseph reignited the visitors’ hopes by dismissing Mushfiqur Rahim for 49, leaving Bangladesh at 184 for four while chasing a daunting target of 369. With 19 overs remaining in the day, bad light brought play to a halt.
Joseph bowled a length delivery that angled into Mushfiqur before straightening after pitching. Attempting to defend, the Bangladesh batter was beaten on the outside edge as the ball crashed into the off stump.
Mushfiqur departed after facing 123 deliveries, hitting six boundaries in his determined innings.
Earlier, Jomel Warrican ended Hridoy’s impressive resistance shortly after the tea break, providing West Indies with a crucial breakthrough in their bid for victory.
Hridoy, who scored a determined 82 off 140 deliveries, fell while attempting a sweep shot. Warrican bowled a full delivery outside leg stump, beating the batter as the ball turned sharply and brushed the leg stump, dislodging the bail.
Although the West Indies players immediately celebrated, Hridoy initially appeared uncertain about his dismissal. The third umpire, however, confirmed the decision, bringing an end to his fighting knock, which included eight boundaries.
The wicket also marked a significant milestone for Warrican, as it was his 100th in Test cricket.
Hridoy and Mushfiqur had given Bangladesh renewed hope of saving the match through a valuable 135-run partnership for the third wicket.
The pair frustrated the West Indies bowling attack throughout the afternoon session, adding 113 runs in 34 overs without losing a wicket after Bangladesh resumed their innings at 49 for two at lunch.
Following the two dismissals, wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz were at the crease, tasked with guiding Bangladesh through the remaining overs. However, bad light ultimately had the final say, forcing the match to end in a draw.
Hridoy, Mushfiqur resist as Tigers fight to save Test
Tawhid Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim combined for an unbeaten 122-run third-wicket stand to help Bangladesh fight back against West Indies and keep their hopes of salvaging a draw alive in the second Test in Sylhet on Monday.
Bangladesh reached 162 for two at tea on the final day, with Hridoy unbeaten on 82 off 130 balls and Mushfiqur on 40 off 99 deliveries. The hosts still need 207 runs to win, with one session remaining and 30 overs left in the day’s play.
The pair batted through a wicketless afternoon session, adding 113 runs in 34 overs after Bangladesh had resumed at 49 for two at lunch. Their resistance has put the hosts in a position to fight for a draw, although West Indies will still fancy their chances of taking the remaining eight wickets.
The partnership also brought two significant individual milestones.
Hridoy became the highest run-getter for Bangladesh in a single Test, taking his match aggregate to 324 not out (242 not out and 82 not out) to surpass Mominul Haque’s previous record of 281.
Mushfiqur, meanwhile, became the first Bangladesh batter to reach 7,000 Test runs, achieving the landmark when he moved to nine during the day’s play. He now has 7,031 runs in 107 Tests.
