Bangladesh defeated the West Indies by 101 runs in the second and final Test to tie the two-match series at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, today, thanks to a five-wicket haul from left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.
Bangladesh secured their third overseas victory of the year as the hosts collapsed against Taijul, chasing a victory target of 287 and being all out for 185.
The previous highest for a year on foreign soil was achieved in 2009, when Bangladesh won both Test matches, and this was their first victory on West Indies land since then.
Taijul finished with 5-50 and was complemented by the three-pronged pace attack with Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahud snaring two each, while Nahid Rana, who brought Bangladesh back into the game with 5-61 in the first innings, finished with 1-32.
Kavem Hodge led the West Indies in scoring with 55, followed by skipper Kraigg Brathwaite with 43. However, Taijul effectively used the pitch’s bounce and change to leave the hosts perplexed.
As the hosts sought a record target for a series sweep after winning the first Test by 201 runs, Taijul started the West Indies’ downward spiral by removing opener Mikyle Louise for 6.
Taskin Ahmed, a fast bowler, defeated Keacy Carty, who added 14 and joined Brathwaite for a 34-run stand for the second wicket.
Brathwaite looked to lead the side in astute fashion before falling to Taijul while defending a turning delivery. Mahmudul Hasan Joy held onto a tough catch with an athletic effort to remove the captain, who hammered two fours and one six in his 63-ball knock.
Alick Athanaze was also baffled by a turning delivery to be out for 5, and Taijul then edged the side closer to victory, trapping Hodge leg-before.
Taskin came back in his spell to get another prized scalp of Justin Greaves, who smashed a match-winning century in the previous Test. This time he made 20.
Taijul then again got one to turn past Joshua Da Silva (12) to bring up his 15th five-for in Test cricket.
Hasan Mahmud struck twice in his one over before Nahid Rana fittingly finished the game by uprooting the stump of Shamar Joseph.
Jaker Ali Anik missed out on his maiden ton by nine runs earlier on Day 4 but played with flair and authority to leave the hosts in a dumbfounded state.
His 106-ball 91 included eight fours and five sixes and, most importantly, helped Bangladesh set a target that was well beyond West Indies.
West Indies chased down 212 for the highest successful chase in the fourth innings on this ground in 2003. In fact, only twice have teams chased 180-plus successfully on this ground.
Jaker’s 91, also his career best and his third straight fifty-plus knock in as many matches, as only the second Bangladeshi batter, helped the side put up 268 in the second innings before being all out.
Bangladesh took an 18-run lead in the first innings after bowling out West Indies for 146, thanks to fast bowler Nahid Rana’s maiden five-for (5 for 61 runs).
Resuming the day at 193-5, Bangladesh received a setback early in the day when they lost overnight batter Taijul Islam and experienced campaigner Mominul in the consecutive two overs to be left at 211-7.
Mominul was dismissed for a duck for the second consecutive time in this Test, which took his duck tally to 18, the highest by any Bangladeshi batter. Interestingly, he has 13 centuries, also the highest by a Bangladeshi batter.
The lead was 222 at that moment, but Jaker Ali came up with whirlwind batting, much to the dismay of the Caribbean bowlers, to pace the innings. He scored 53 off 33 balls off the last 57 runs made by Bangladeshi batters after the dismissal of Mominul.
Fast bowler Kemar Roach, who was unable to bowl on Day 3 after being hit by a bouncer of Nahid Rana, took three of the five wickets on Day 4. He finished with 3-36 from 10 overs. Alzarri Joseph also ended with 3-77 while Shamar Joseph had figures of 2-80.The two teams will next play a three-match ODI series, which will be followed by the same number of T20 Internationals.
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