Roston Chase Rips Through Bangladesh Top Order on Day Three in Mirpur

West Indies captain Roston Chase ripped through the Bangladesh top order on the third day of the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday. The Bangladesh West Indies first Test tilted sharply towards the visitors as the hosts closed on 79 for 6 in their second innings, holding a lead of only 106 runs.

Bangladesh had started the day in control. West Indies resumed on 134 for 4 and were bowled out for 245, conceding a first-innings lead of 27 runs after Bangladesh had posted 272. By stumps, though, the match had turned. Concussion substitute Jaker Ali and Nayeem Hasan were both unbeaten on 18 when bad light stopped play early.

Chase breaks Bangladesh after West Indies fight back with the bat

West Indies owed their fightback to a fifth-wicket stand between Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Justin Greaves. Chanderpaul top-scored with 56, while Greaves made 46, and the pair added 65 runs before Shoriful Islam broke through with Chanderpaul edging to captain Najmul Hossain Shanto at second slip.

Greaves then kept the resistance going alongside Chase, who finished unbeaten on 43 after being dropped on 27. Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan broke the stand by trapping Greaves lbw shortly before lunch, leaving West Indies on 213 for 6. Nayeem then cleaned up the tail, removing Shamar Joseph and Jomel Warrican in the 81st over before dismissing Jayden Seales in the next, to finish with four wickets for 33 runs.

The second innings began badly for Bangladesh. Joseph struck in the second over to send opener Tanzid Hasan back for a duck. Shadman Islam, who had scored 105 in the first innings, and Shanto steadied things briefly before Chase took control. He bowled Shadman for 13, removed Towhid Hridoy for a duck two balls later, and trapped Shanto lbw for 10 in his next over to leave Bangladesh reeling at 33 for 4. Rain then stopped play for around 30 minutes.

After the break, West Indies pressed on. Warrican trapped Litton Das lbw for four and then bowled Mehidy Hasan Miraz, reducing Bangladesh to 53 for 6. Only Jaker and Nayeem held firm until bad light ended the day.

What day four holds for the Bangladesh West Indies first Test

West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer said his side held the advantage after the day’s play. “We are in a very good position,” he said. “We bowled in disciplined areas, stuck to the team plans and everyone really hustled out there in the heat.” He added that chasing around 125 runs felt very possible on this pitch, provided West Indies took early wickets on day four.

Nayeem, speaking for Bangladesh, set a different target. “We will try to give the team as many runs as possible,” he said. “A total of 200 would be very good. We will try to score even more.” The gap between those two numbers shows how finely balanced the match remains, even after Bangladesh lost six wickets for 79 runs.

One subplot already shaped the day before Chase struck. Mominul Haque suffered concussion while attempting a catch at short leg, after dropping Joshua Bishop on 11, and Jaker replaced him as a concussion substitute. Feature Pakistan covered Jaker Ali’s entry into the match as a concussion substitute earlier in the day. Jaker now stands between West Indies and a small chase, unbeaten overnight alongside Nayeem.

Day four will decide the match quickly. If West Indies take the last four wickets cheaply, they will chase a modest target on a wearing Mirpur pitch. If Jaker and Nayeem stretch the lead past 200, Bangladesh will believe they can defend it with spin on the final day.

The original report on day three was published by Geo Super.

What is Bangladesh’s lead after day three?

Bangladesh lead by 106 runs, with four second-innings wickets in hand at 79 for 6.

How many wickets did Roston Chase take in the second innings?

Chase took three wickets in a burst that removed Shadman Islam, Towhid Hridoy and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.

Who top-scored for West Indies in the first innings?

Tagenarine Chanderpaul top-scored with 56, while captain Roston Chase finished unbeaten on 43.

Why is Jaker Ali batting for Bangladesh?

Jaker Ali entered the match as a concussion substitute after Mominul Haque suffered concussion while attempting a catch at short leg.