Bangladesh vs West Indies second Test Sylhet 369-run chase, Digi Mart USA News (Sylhet, Bangladesh): Bangladesh are facing a daunting challenge to avoid a series whitewash after West Indies set the Tigers a target of 369 runs on the fifth and final day of the second Test at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
The visitors declared their second innings at 398-6, leaving Bangladesh with a steep task to level the two-match series. The Tigers are already trailing 1-0 after suffering an eight-wicket defeat in the opening Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
Head coach Phil Simmons had said before the final day’s play that saving the Test would be the first priority. “It’s a Test match, you don’t try to lose Test matches.
You try to save them [first],” Simmons said.
Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy, who produced a double century in the first innings, did not entirely rule out a chase. “Look, it will depend on how we start.
The wicket still looks good to us. But this is red-ball cricket.
If we can get off to a good start, I think chasing it is possible,” Hridoy said at Sunday’s post-day press conference.
The target remains formidable. Bangladesh’s highest successful run chase in Test cricket is the 215-run pursuit against West Indies in 2009, and they have not chased down a target of more than 200 runs in Test cricket since then.
Early in the morning, spinner Nayeem Hasan provided the breakthrough by dismissing centurion Kavem Hodge to end the visitors’ fourth-wicket stand. Hodge, who was caught by Hasan Mahmud at fine leg, scored 142 off 194 deliveries with 17 fours and a six.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz then trapped Justin Greaves lbw for nine. Greaves chose not to review the decision and walked off after facing 16 deliveries.
Nayeem struck again soon afterwards, removing Shamar Joseph for one off three balls. Joseph attempted to clear long-off but Tanzid Hasan took a comfortable catch in the deep.
The two early breakthroughs gave Bangladesh a brief lift but did little to ease the pressure of the enormous target. West Indies had resumed the fifth day at 345-3 after bad light forced an early close on the fourth day in Sylhet on Sunday.
