West Indies Defeat Bangladesh by 201 Runs in Antigua Test

West Indies have taken a commanding 1-0 lead in the series after defeating Bangladesh by 201 runs in the first Test in Antigua. The West Indies set Bangladesh a daunting target of 334 runs after declaring their first innings at 450. In response, Bangladesh managed only 269 runs before declaring their first innings.

Bangladesh's bowlers, led by Taskin Ahmed, fought back in the second innings, with Taskin claiming 6 wickets as West Indies were bowled out for 152, setting Bangladesh a challenging target. However, Bangladesh's batting crumbled in the second innings, and they were unable to reach 132 runs, leaving West Indies to clinch a big win.

On the final day, Bangladesh needed 225 runs to win with just 3 wickets in hand. The only recognized batsman remaining was Zakir Ali Anik. Bangladesh faced a tough challenge, and when they started their final innings, they were only able to bat for 7 overs before losing more wickets.

After 31 overs, Bangladesh were 7 wickets down for 109 runs, and by 38 overs, they had fallen to 132/9. Shariful Islam, who had been struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Alzarri Joseph, could no longer continue. After a check-up by the physio, the tailenders were left to fight, but they could not survive long, and Bangladesh’s second innings ended at 132 runs, handing West Indies a comfortable 201-run victory.

Despite the defeat, there were notable performances from Bangladesh's bowlers, particularly Taskin Ahmed. Taskin's brilliant spell of 6 wickets for 64 runs in the West Indies' second innings was the highlight of the match. His efforts led to West Indies being bowled out for just 152, reducing the target to a manageable 334 runs.

Bangladesh’s captain, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, made a brave decision to declare their first innings at 269, 181 runs behind West Indies' total of 450, leaving his bowlers a tough task. However, the declaration proved to be a good one as Taskin’s career-best performance in the second innings brought Bangladesh back into the contest, albeit briefly.

Despite the fightback with the ball, Bangladesh's batting ultimately let them down. On day 5, they were unable to make much headway in the chase and ended up with just 132/9, as West Indies secured a comfortable 201-run victory. The series now stands at 1-0 in favor of the West Indies, with Bangladesh left to regroup before the next Test match.