Taijul Islam’s five-hit helped the visitors win the second Test at Sabina Park and level the two-match series.
Bangladesh completed an impressive comeback to beat West Indies by 101 runs in the second Test match to register their first win in the Caribbean since 2009.
Taijul Islam took five wickets for the 15th time in a Test innings to lead Bangladesh to a series-levelling victory on the fourth evening of the final Test of the series at Sabina Park on Tuesday.
After Jaker Ali’s Test best innings of 91 lifted the tourists to 268 for the second innings to leave the home side with a winning target of 287, left-arm spinner Islam demolished the Caribbean team’s effort with 5-50. They were dismissed for 185 in the final session of the day.
Fast bowler Nahid Rana, who took his first five-wicket haul in the first innings, led Bangladesh back into contention and was content to administer the last rites when he yoke to last man Shamar Joseph for the only wicket of the innings.
“It feels really good to get a win in a Test match overseas, which we haven’t done very often. It was an incredible effort from all the players,” said Islam, who was the man of the match.
Seamers Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud took two wickets each, with Taskin emerging as the leading wicket-taker in a short series that featured 11 casualties.
Kavem Hodge top-scored for West Indies with 55, while captain Kraigg Brathwaite had an unusual adventure at the top of the order, contributing 43 off 63 deliveries.
But they lost wickets regularly and eventually succumbed after just 50 overs as Bangladesh quickly avenged the 201-run collapse they had endured in the first Test in Antigua a week ago.
“We wanted to be positive and I thought we started well but obviously we couldn’t carry it through to the end,” Brathwaite regretted.
This was the West Indies’ first Test win since Bangladesh swept the depleted Caribbean side 2-0 in 2009.
Ali’s early belligerent innings, which took 106 deliveries and was decorated with eight fours and five sixes, tipped the balance heavily in Bangladesh’s favour. The most successful run chase in a Test at Sabina Park was the innings of 212 achieved by West Indies against Sri Lanka. Lanka in 2003.
The 26-year-old right-hander’s dominance in the morning was significant as he contributed 62 of the 75 runs added by the tourists after resuming from a position of 193-5.
Alzarri Joseph and Kemar Roach took three wickets each for West Indies, with Joseph ending Ali’s quest for a maiden Test hundred when he was caught at deep mid-wicket and last out half an hour before lunch.
Taskin Ahmed and Jayden Seales are in the spotlight! 🌟🏏
Taskin (11 wickets) and Seales (10 wickets) were named joint players of the series for their outstanding performance with the ball. Two outstanding pacers, one unforgettable series! 🔥🎯PC: West Indies Cricket#BCB pic.twitter.com/i7MsBRANjc
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) December 4, 2024
