Bangladesh under pressure at lunch after losing both openers, still 320 runs short

Bangladesh were under pressure at lunch on the fifth day of the Sylhet Test, losing both openers before the break while chasing 369.

The hosts ended the first session on 49 for 2 in 14 overs. Towhid Hridoy was unbeaten on 8 and Mushfiqur Rahim on 5, with Bangladesh still 320 runs short of victory.

West Indies are now eight wickets away from a 2-0 series win. Jomel Warrican raised the visitors' hopes by removing both Bangladesh openers.

Bangladesh handled the three pacers well but struggled against Caribbean spin. As soon as Warrican took the ball in the eighth over, the opening stand was broken.

Tanzid Hasan was caught by Joshua Da Silva off his bowling. His 21 runs came in a 33-run opening stand, with four boundaries in a 32-ball innings.

Warrican also removed the other opener, Shanto. The captain was out leg before wicket for 14 off 27 balls. The umpire did not give him out at first, and the visitors got their second wicket on review.

Captain Roston Chase was also getting some assistance from the fifth-day pitch in Sylhet.

Earlier, West Indies declared their second innings after batting for about an hour on the final day, losing three more wickets. They invited Bangladesh to bat after reaching 398 for 6, setting the hosts a target of 369 in 78 overs.

The final day had begun well for Bangladesh, who took three West Indies wickets for 22 runs. Kavem Hodge, on 140, and Amir Jangoo, on 20, resumed the day. Hodge departed after facing only five balls, adding two runs, and fell to Nayeem Hasan for 142 off 194 balls, with 17 fours and a six, caught by Hasan Mahmud at fine leg while trying to pull.

Bangladesh then took two wickets in consecutive overs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz trapped Justin Greaves leg before wicket for 9, and in the next over Shamar Joseph was caught by Tanzid Hasan off Nayeem for 1.

West Indies lost their fourth wicket at 350 and their sixth at 372. Joshua Bishop then lifted the scoring rate with two sixes and a four, playing a cameo of 20 off 11 balls. It looked as though West Indies would declare after reaching 400, but they decided to stop at 398, with Jangoo unbeaten on 39 alongside Bishop.

For Bangladesh, Taijul, Miraz and Nayeem took two wickets each in the second innings. In the first innings, West Indies scored 356, and Bangladesh replied with 386, riding on Towhid Hridoy's 242.

Before sending the team out on the final day, the Bangladesh coach said, 'Batting last, the fifth day is always difficult. The good thing is that the wicket is still playing well, there is no problem with the wicket. We will wait and see what they do. We came out this morning and we will play with our best effort.'

Simmons said, 'We have to see the situation and what happens in the first hour. Let's see what they do, then we will decide how to play the day. It is a Test match. You do not want to lose a Test match, you try to save the match.'