Hat-trick for Hasan Murad, Match drawn

Bangladesh had a solid batting preparation at the Antigua Coolidge Cricket Ground. After setting a challenging total of 253 in their first innings, they saw a dramatic collapse of the West Indies XI, who were battered by Bangladesh’s pace attack. The West Indies, having lost 5 wickets for just 45 runs, were eventually bowled out for only 87 runs, with Bangladesh taking the final 5 wickets for just 42 runs. The warm-up match ended in a draw.

Young spinner Hasan Murad stood out with the ball, claiming the most wickets in the innings—3 wickets from just 10 deliveries. In the 28th over of the innings, Hasan Murad achieved a remarkable hat-trick, taking three quick wickets in a row to completely unsettle the West Indies batting.

After a solid batting display, where Bangladesh posted 253 runs, they declared their innings with 7 wickets down. They then put on a fine bowling performance, with the pacers, led by Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and Shariful Islam, reducing the hosts to a near-collapse. Following the pace attack, the spin duo of Hasan Murad and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took control.

The West Indies lost their captain, Craig Brathwaite, in the very first over of their innings. Early in the day, almost two sessions were lost to rain, but when play resumed, Bangladesh's pacers showed their dominance. Taskin, Hasan Mahmud, and Shariful reduced the West Indies' top order to shambles. By the time the scoreboard read 45 runs, the West Indies were already 5 wickets down.

On the previous day, Bangladesh had declared their innings and celebrated the wicket of West Indies’ captain Brathwaite in the very first over. Hasan Mahmud made a sensational start, dismissing Brathwaite early.

In today’s play, Taskin Ahmed claimed the first breakthrough for the team by dismissing Joshua Da Silva, who was on 7, caught by Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Then, in the 9th over of the innings, Hasan Mahmud doubled his wickets tally with a brilliant delivery that bowled Jordan Johnson out.

Taskin soon picked up his second wicket, dismissing opener Kimani Melius for just 23 runs. Melius failed to execute a shot and was caught by Shariful Islam. By the time the West Indies were at 38 for 4, and then 45 for 5, they were in deep trouble.

However, Justin Greaves and Daniel Beckford resisted, and together they tried to rebuild the innings. But the breakthrough came when Mehidy Hasan Miraz dismissed Greaves at 87 runs. This led to the collapse of the final four wickets, with Hasan Murad doing the damage. After Miraz’s wicket, Murad bowled just 1.4 more overs, claiming the next 3 wickets to complete a stunning performance.