MIRPUR – Darren Bravo made the breakthrough, collecting his maiden Test hundred to put West Indies in a near impregnable position in the second Test against Bangladesh yesterday.
The stylish left-hander has promised much in the past, but finally delivered with an even, undefeated 100 that propelled West Indies to 207 for three in their second innings for an overall lead of 331, after three days in the final match of the two-Test series at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.
This came after leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo claimed two of the last three Bangladesh wickets, finishing with three wickets for 62 runs from 23 overs as the hosts were bowled out for 231, replying to West Indies’ first innings total of 355, about an hour before lunch.
Bravo, the younger brother of West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, reached his milestone from 165 balls, cutting the short, wide last delivery of the day from left-arm spinner Suhrawadi Shuvo through point for two, naturally sparking a leap of joy in obvious relief.
He added 151 for the third wicket with Kirk Edwards, after the departure of young openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell cheaply which left West Indies 33 for two.
“As I got closer to the century I was very careful. I actually wanted to wait for the right ball to get my first Test century,” Bravo said afterwards. “It was a back of a length delivery and I thought I played it well. I thought it went for four so I started to celebrate before reaching the hundred,” the Trinidadian said with a smile.
“I’m happy . . . every batsman dreams of a Test hundred and I’m very happy to reach this landmark. I just went out and played my natural game and hit the balls as they came down to me.
“I want to dedicate my performance to the two closest people in my life – my father (John) and my mother (Earline). They have been there for me throughout my life and as I celebrate my milestone I know they must be happy too.”
Edwards looked set to follow up his first innings 121 with another hundred before Shuvo captured his wicket for 86 in the final hour.
West Indies were set back early when Brathwaite was run out off the second ball. He failed to beat a direct hit at the bowler’s end from Naeem Islam.
Edwards joined Powell and they settled down into the job with the left-handed opener drilling Nasir Hossain straight back past the bowler for the first boundary of the innings.
However, the two batsmen got tied down when Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim turned to an all-spin attack after six overs, as West Indies reached 27 for one at lunch.
After the interval, Edwards started confidently, driving Nasir Hossain through cover for four, but Powell remained circumspect before he was skied a delivery from Shakib Al Hasan and was caught at mid-on for 12.
This brought Bravo to the crease and he got into stride with a lofted straight drive for four off his second delivery from Shakib.
He also lofted Shakib for a six over longon in the left-arm spinner’s next over before destroying the confidence of Nasir a few overs later with a drive for four over mid-on, another drive through cover for another boundary, and a pull for six over mid-wicket in the off-spinner’s tenth over.
A war of attrition took place over the next hour or so before Bravo broke the shackles with a booming drive through cover off Shahadat Hossain to bring up the 50-run stand with Edwards, who also exploded with a straight six in the next over from the same bowler.
Bravo was blessed with two slices of good fortune when Rahim, also the Bangladesh ’keeper, dropped him on 45 off Shakib, who suffered again two balls later when Imrul Kayes put the younger Bravo down again on the same score. (CMC)
