Bangladesh Shows All-Round Performance Against Cricket West Indies XI in Preparation Match

Bangladesh delivered an all-round performance against the Cricket West Indies XI in their only warm-up match before the Test series. Bangladesh posted 253 runs in their first innings, with opportunities for more, as Jaker Ali and Mahidul Ankon both came close to half-centuries. However, with the score at 253 for 7, the Bangladesh captain declared the innings.

In reply, the pace bowlers dominated the West Indies batting line-up, reducing them to 45 runs with 5 wickets down.

The batting preparation for Bangladesh at the Antigua Coolidge Cricket Ground was solid. However, when they switched to bowling, the West Indies top order struggled under the pace attack.

On the previous day, the West Indies lost their captain Kraigg Brathwaite, in the very first over of the innings. The next morning, nearly two sessions were lost due to rain, but once the game resumed, Bangladesh's pace bowlers made their presence felt. Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and Shariful Islam reduced the West Indies top order to helplessness with some aggressive bowling.

The West Indies XI was reduced to 5 wickets down for just 45 runs. Yesterday, after declaring their innings, Bangladesh celebrated their first wicket in the very first over. Hasan Mahmud made an immediate impact, removing West Indies' captain Craig Brathwaite.

Taskin Ahmed provided the first breakthrough of the day for Bangladesh. He dismissed Joshua Da Silva, who was on 7, catching him off Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s delivery. Later, in the 9th over of the innings, Hasan Mahmud struck again, bowling Jordan Johnson out with a superb delivery to double his wicket tally.

In the blink of an eye, Taskin also bagged his second wicket. He dismissed the opener, Kimani Melius, for just 23 runs. Melius failed to execute a shot and was caught by Shariful Islam. With the team at 38 for 4 and 45 for 5, the West Indies' innings was in deep trouble.

However, Justin Greaves and Daniel Beckford provided some resistance, steadying the West Indies innings.