Bangladesh on top after Rana five-for and enterprising batting

Nahid Rana’s first Test five-wicket haul nudged Bangladesh ahead of the West Indies before the tourists’ usually suspect batting line-up displayed a measure of resilience to claim the upper hand on the third day of the second and final Test at Sabina Park.

Rana led the rout of the home side’s first innings for 146 on Monday with impressive figures of five for 61, giving the visitors a lead of 18 runs.

Buoyed by that effort, the Bangladesh top-order batting then displayed the sort of shot-making confidence previously unseen in this brief series to reach stumps at 193 for five in the second innings, a lead of 211 with five wickets in hand.

Given that the highest successful run-chase in a Test match at Sabina Park is just 211, achieved by the West Indies against Sri Lanka in 2003, history would appear to be on the side of the tourists forcing a series-levelling victory over the final two days.

Starting the day at 70 for one, West Indies were swiftly undermined by the 22-year-old Rana, who added four more victims to the dismissal of Mikyle Louis the previous evening.

Rana was well supported by fellow seamer Hasan Mahmud (2 for 19).

Keacy Carty top-scored with 40 while captain Kraigg Brathwaite, the first wicket of the day when he was caught in the gully off Rana, contributed 39.

“We knew it was coming at some stage,” said Bangladesh bowling coach Andre Adams. “When you bowl 150 k’s (km/h) you are going to take wickets eventually.

“We’ve got to look after him. That’s why he didn’t play in the first Test match. Luckily he has guys out there like Taskin (Ahmed) and Hasan as fellow seamers to keep him focused on the field.”

Bangladesh rallied from the early loss of Mahmudul Hasan Joy at the start of the second innings with 46 from Shadman Islam and a 39-ball 42 from captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who promoted himself to number four in the order, taking the initiative from a West Indies team which lost the plot in the final session when they insisted on ultra-aggression and paid the price with a succession of boundaries.

Rana-inspired Tigers stretch lead past 100

Following an inspirational spell of fast bowling by Nahid Rana, Bangladesh have taken their lead past 100 runs in quick time against the West Indies on the third day of the second and final Test at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, on Monday.

The visitors, trailing 1-0 in the series, are on 100 for two in 15.4 overs in their second innings as the Tea session approaches — with Shahadat Hossain Dipu setting the tone with quick-fire 26-ball 28 following the loss of Mahmudul Hasan Joy, out without scoring.

After Dipu departed, captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz promoted himself up the batting order, ahead of Mominul Haque – who is recovering from a discomfort – and Liton Das. Miraz, alongside opener Shadman Islam, carried on where Dipu had left off as the duo hit a 50-run partnership inside five overs.

The home side, meanwhile, had been operating without their experienced pacer Kemar Roach, who sustained a blow to his left shoulder in a failed attempt to fend off a bouncer from Rana.

Rana leads the charge with maiden five-for

Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana picked up his maiden Test five-for to help his side bundle out the West Indies for 146 in their first innings on the third day of the second and final Test at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica on Monday.

The visitors, trailing 1-0 in the series, thus lead by 18 runs after having scored 164 in their first innings.

Earlier, resuming after Lunch, Bangladesh took little time to remove the two remaining batters, with captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz trapping Shamar Joseph in front before Rana, playing his fifth Test, dismissed Kemar Roach to his career-best figures, surpassing 4-44 registered in Rawalpindi against Pakistan this year.

Rana ended up with figures of 5-61 in 18 overs, while fellow quick Hasan Mahmud picked up two wickets.

Pacers turn on the heat

Bangladesh pacers made quick work of the West Indies’ batting line-up on the third day of the second Test at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica on Monday, reducing the home side’s first innings to 135 for eight at Lunch as they trail by 29 runs.

Nahid Rana got the ball rolling when the 22-year-old speedster nicked off Windies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (39) and Kavem Hodge (3) in back-to-back overs after the hosts began day’s proceedings on 70 for one, in reply to Bangladesh’s 164 all out.

Taskin Ahmed was quick to get in on the action as he castled Alick Athanaze (2) from around the wicket. And soon after, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam got rid of Justin Greaves (2) with an arm ball before pacer Hasan Mahmud got one to skid on and trap Joshua de Silva (5) in front, exposing the Windies’ tail.

Keacy Carty, the only recognised batter remaining by then, tickled one to the keeper down the leg side after scoring 40, while Rana dismissed Alzarri Joseph (7) soon after to scalp his fourth.