Dhaka – Joshua Da Silva and Nkrumah Bonner both fell agonisingly short of hundreds while tail-ender Alzarri Joseph lashed an attacking half-century, but it was speedster Shannon Gabriel who rattled Bangladesh with a brace of wickets to put West Indies in command of the second Test here Friday.
In another hugely impressive showing by the under-strength side on day two of the contest at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, West Indies rallied to 409 all out in their first innings, 15 minutes before the scheduled tea interval.
Da Silva, unbeaten overnight on 22, top-scored with 92 while Nkrumah Bonner fell for 90 after resuming the morning on 74.
Perhaps the highlight of the innings, however, was Joseph’s stunning 82 as he put the Bangladesh bowlers to the sword on either side of lunch in a breathtaking display of powerful hitting.
Gabriel (2-31) then rocked the innings immediately after tea by sending back Soumya Sarkar without scoring and Najmul Hossain for four in successive overs at the start, as Bangladesh slumped to 11 for two.
Opener Tamim Iqbal struck a breezy 44 in a half-century stand with captain Mominul Haque (21) but both fell six balls apart on the stroke of the final hour, to leave the innings on 105 for four at the close and the Caribbean side with a lead of 304 runs heading Saturday’s day three.
Resuming the day on 223 for five, West Indies flourished inside the first hour as Da Silva and Bonner extended their sixth wicket partnership to 88 before being separated.
Da Silva gathered most of his 10 boundaries with crisp cuts and drives through the off side as he faced 187 balls in nearly 4-½ hours at the crease.
He reached his second Test half-century in only this third Test on the stroke of the first hour with a reverse sweep to the third man boundary off off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Bonner, meanwhile, hit seven fours off 209 deliveries in a shade under 4-¾ hours. (CMC)
