Mirpur Test: Spinners Fight Back After Batting Collapse as Bangladesh End Day Two 138 Runs Ahead

When the match officials called off play for bad light on the second day of the Mirpur Test, Bangladesh were 138 runs ahead. But although the hosts lead on runs, West Indies dominated much of the day; it was the spinners' fighting performance in the final session that kept the day from slipping away entirely.

Bangladesh, resuming on 213 for 3, had the chance of a big total. Acting batting coach Mohammad Salahuddin had spoken of a 400-run target at the previous day's press conference. But the batters fell well short: in the first session of the second day, Bangladesh lost seven wickets for 51 runs and were bowled out for 272. The batters themselves were more to blame for the collapse than the West Indies bowlers.

The focus at the start of the day was opener Sadman Islam, unbeaten on 99. He reached his century — the third of his Test career — off the second ball of the day, but could not carry on much further, falling lbw to Joshua Bishop for 105.

Towhid Hridoy was the biggest disappointment: retired hurt on 42 the previous day, he failed to add a single run on day two. Mehidy Hasan Miraz raised hopes of resistance in a 32-run sixth-wicket stand with Litton Das, but his innings lasted no more than 15 runs before he was bowled by Jomel Warrican while trying to defend. Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Mahmud and Taijul Islam then departed in turn, leaving Litton stranded on 34 not out as Bangladesh were dismissed for 272.

Warrican tested the home batters the most, landing the ball in good areas consistently and troubling them with his turn; he added three wickets on the second day to the two he took on day one.

In reply, West Indies closed the day on 134 for 4. After Brandon King (15) fell with the score on 29, the resistance of John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul began to worry Bangladesh. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto used pacers Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud for 11 overs before turning to spin, but neither Miraz nor Taijul could find a breakthrough at first.

The breakthrough finally came in the final session through Miraz — with a big contribution from Shanto. The captain dived to one side at slip to hold a catch off Campbell's bat. Former captain Shahriar Nafees, now working in the BCB's cricket operations department, posted the video of the catch on Facebook and wrote, "Skipper has wings." Campbell's dismissal for 54 ended his 61-run second-wicket stand with Chanderpaul.

Taijul Islam then struck twice in the 36th over, removing Kavem Hodge and Amir Jangoo within three balls as West Indies slipped to 97 for 4. Chanderpaul (43) and Justin Greaves (15) saw out the day with an unbroken 37-run stand. Chanderpaul's 43 came off 145 balls — notably, no Bangladesh batter except Sadman faced even 100 balls in their innings. The son of Caribbean legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tagenarine appears to be following in his father's footsteps towards becoming a model Test batter.

With overcast conditions, the Mirpur wicket is becoming increasingly spin-friendly as the match progresses. Bangladesh's spinners will look to use that on day three, with their main task being to bowl West Indies out quickly.