In a bid to redeem themselves from the shambolic defeat of the first Test, Bangladesh regrouped well to keep Windies at 223/5 after Day 1 of the second Test match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur on Thursday.
Both teams had their fair share of good cricket throughout several sessions during Day 1 and they have reasons to be satisfied with what has transpired. At one stage of Day 1, Windies were reduced to 178/5. However, with an unbeaten partnership of 62 runs between Nkrumah Bonner and Joshua Da Silva, Windies fought back to end the day on a high.
However, Windies finished their day with the fewest runs scored in a full day's play at Mirpur, and that's a good tribute to the discipline from the Bangladesh bowlers. Bangladesh have somehow managed to keep pegging away with crucial wickets at regular intervals.
West Indies have tried to rebuild their innings throughout the day with partnerships, however, just when it seemed they had some grip, they then handed the initiative away to the hosts. That said, West Indies will reflect on each dismissal and say they could have avoided each of those with some more judicious shot selection.
However credit should be given where it is due and Tigers bowlers resolute bowling did not give Windies batters any chance to put their ascendency into the match. For Bangladesh, pacer Abu Jayed and spinner Taijul Islam were the peak of the bowlers as they scalped two wickets each. Soumya bagged one.
For Windies, Bonner and Da Silva are on the crease and they are batting at 74 and 22 respectively. They both will be looking to propel Windies to a comfortable first innings total. Meanwhile, Bangladesh bowlers will be looking to get the remaining wickets as quickly as possible ahead of Day 2.
