For the second time in the match, the Sagicor West Indies High Performance Centre bowlers ran through the Bangladesh ‘A’ batting line-up to wrap up a comprehensive victory yesterday by 351 runs with more than a day to spare in the first of two four-day “Tests”.
After declaring their second innings 47 minutes into the post-lunch session with the total 351 for eight and setting an improbable 504 to win, HPC took just 38.2 overs to dismiss the tourists for 152 and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Fast bowler Miguel Cummins spearheaded the bowling effort, grabbing four wickets for 40 runs for a match return of seven for 65, while leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo enjoyed a lengthy spell of 14.2 overs to take three wickets for 58 runs.
Opening bat Samsur Rahman (33) was the best of the Bangladesh batsmen, with three others making 20 or more in the disappointing batting display.
HPC skipper Kraigg Brathwaite had earlier guided his side from an overnight 170 for two to 351 for eight before making the declaration on the stroke of his own dismissal for a masterful 164.
Brathwaite, not out on 96 overnight, wasted little time in progressing to his century, guiding the morning’s fourth delivery to third man for three to reach the landmark after stroking the first ball for two.
The 21-year-old West Indies hopeful’s sixth first-class ton spanned two days, in which he faced 129 balls. The innings contained ten fours and a six and took two minutes short of three hours at the crease.
Leon Johnson, Brathwaite’s overnight partner, added two to his overnight 40 not out before Jonathan Carter joined his captain to dominate a 69-run stand.
Carter fell one short of a half-century as he missed a sweep shot to be lbw to left-arm spinner Taijul Islam just before lunch, which was taken with the score 282 for six.
Carlos Brathwaite, who greeted the second new ball, taken after 80.5 overs by thumping Robiul for a pair of fours and a huge six in the bowler’s first over of new spell, chipped in with 37, while Kraigg raised 150 with a rousing off-drive off the same bowler.
Bangladesh ‘A’ went to tea on 58 for two and continued to slide after the break as Sheldon Cottrell, who replaced Cummins at the southern end, snapped up Rahman and Naeem Islam while Bishoo chipped in with three wickets for 58 runs.
