Seales’ 4 for 5 puts West Indies in control as Bangladesh fold for 164

West Indies’ second-wicket pair of Kraigg Brathwaite and Keacy Carty safely negotiated a tricky final period to take their team to 70-1 in reply to Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 164 at stumps on the second day of the second and final Test at Sabina Park on Sunday.

In desperate need of runs after a lean spell throughout much of 2024, captain Brathwaite was at his most phlegmatic in grinding out an unbeaten 33 off 115 balls.

Relative newcomer Carty was equally watchful for his 19 not out off 60 balls, the pair coming together in a stand so far worth 45 runs after the raw pace of Nahid Rana accounted for Brathwaite’s opening partner Mikyle Louis (12).

Rana’s wholehearted effort was some consolation for the tourists after the West Indies fast bowlers exploited the many deficiencies to consistent pace and bounce of the Bangladesh batting line-up.

This was particularly exposed in the first Test in Antigua when the West Indian pace battery pummelled their opponents during a comprehensive 201-run win.

Leading the assault in Jamaica was Jayden Seales, who returned the outstanding figures of four wickets for five runs off 15.5 overs.

Frustrated late on the rain-shortened first day when poor catching left him with just one wicket for his efforts, he continued to bowl with miserly hostility and eventually got the reward of the last three wickets of the innings.

Shamar Joseph had done the early damage on the second morning to finish with three for 49.

“For me, I just run in and bowl as fast as possible and try to make batsmen as uncomfortable as possible,” said Joseph, before hailing Seales’ excellent returns.

“That’s the best spell I have seen him bowl since I have been part of the team and I enjoyed watching that. He always brings a level of intensity to his effort.”

Unbeaten on 50 overnight with Bangladesh at 69-2, opener Shadman Islam top-scored with 64 before he was sixth out with captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz (36) the only other player showing any meaningful resistance.

In their last 15 Test innings in the West Indies across four tours since 2014, Bangladesh posted an innings total below 200 for the 11th time.

Tigers bowled out for 164Tigers bowled out for 164

Another dismal batting display – a hallmark of Bangladesh’s Test cricket lately – saw them get bundled out for 164 in the second session on Day 2 of the second Test against the West Indies at the Sabina Park in Jamaica today. 

The Tigers were able to bat for 71.5 overs and were in utter discomfort against the pace battery of the West Indies. Thirsty overs were played on Day 1, meaning the Tigers could only bat for 41.5 overs in the second day.

Shadman Islam top-scored with 64, while skipper Mehedi Hasan Miraz added 36.

The Tigers went to Lunch at 122-6, with Miraz and Taijul Islam unbeaten on 18 and eight, respectively, but the latter fell after a 66-ball 16-run resistance, bringing an end to a 41-run stand for the seventh wicket. The dismissal exposed Bangladesh’s tail as it brought Taskin Ahmed to the crease.

A 20-run stand followed between Taskin and Miraz before both got dismissed in the 69th over. Miraz, the innings’ second-highest scorer with 36 runs, was undone by the short ball and Taskin (8) too suffered the same fate against the short ball. Both were victims of pacer Shamar Joseph.

After Kemar Roach scalped the two wickets that fell on Day 1, it was Joseph and Jaydon Seales whose sizzle became too hot to handle for the Tigers batters the former picked up three wickets and the latter starred with four, while Alzarri Joseph scalped one.

The Tigers started the day well as they kept the Windies pace attack at bay for 8.4 overs but a flurry of wickets followed since then as the visitors Liton Das (1), Jaker Ali (1), Shadman Islam (64) within the next six overs.

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