Windies ambushed in Chittagong

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh (CMC):

A mesmerising display of spin bowling from Taijul Islam sent the West Indies crashing to an embarrassing 64-run defeat inside three days in the opening Test of their two-match series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here on Saturday.

After Devendra Bishoo had captured four wickets to help dismiss Bangladesh for a paltry 125 in their second innings and leave the Windies a target of 204 for victory, Islam claimed his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests to almost single-handedly destroy the visitors' middle order as they were skittled out for 139 on the stroke of tea.

It was the Windies' first-ever loss in Bangladesh and the first in seven Tests overall.

The loss was also the West Indies' third straight to occur inside of three days of a Test, dating back to the two losses in the recently concluded Indian tour.

Resuming the day on 55 for five - an overall lead of 133 runs - the home side managed to add 70 valuable runs thanks mainly to a fighting knock of 31 from lower-order batsman Mahmudullah.

After Mushfiqur Rahim had been bowled by fast-bowler Shannon Gabriel for 19 to leave Bangladesh 69 for six, Mahmudullah and Mehidy Miraz put on a much-needed 37 runs for the seventh wicket.

But Bishoo claimed the next three wickets in quick succession to give the momentum back to the Windies. He began by having Miraz caught behind by wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich for a well-played 18, and then he had both Nayeem Hasan (5) and Mahmudullah caught by Shai Hope as Bangladesh faltered to 123 for nine.

Off-spinner Roston Chase then wrapped up the innings by dismissing Islam for one.

NIGHTMARE START

Bishoo ended with figures of 4 for 26, while Chase took three for 18 and Jomel Warrican two for 43.

However, in pursuit of a reachable target, the West Indies got off to a nightmare start, losing four wickets inside the first six overs.

Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan drew first blood when he tempted Kieran Powell to run down the pitch to a flighted delivery, allowing wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim to effect an easy stumping to make the score five for one.

Six runs later, Shai Hope edged a delivery from Hasan behind to the 'keeper' to be out for three, and without another run being added, Islam accounted for the wickets of Windies' captain Kraigg Brathwaite for eight and Chase for a four-ball duck, both out leg before wicket playing back to flat arm-balls as the West Indies slumped to 11 for four at the lunch break.

For the second time in the match, Shimron Hetmyer countered with aggression, blasting Al Hasan for two fours and a six in the first full over after lunch.

That aggression proved to be his downfall, however, as in trying to hit Mehidy Miraz out of the ground, he picked out Nayeem Hasan on the long-off boundary to be out for a cameo 27 from 19 balls.