Bangladesh started the third day of their first Test against the West Indies in the most auspicious way possible at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam removed overnight batsman Nkrumah Bonner with the very first delivery of the day.
However, Bangladesh bowlers could not capitalize and keep up the momentum as they conceded as many as 36 runs in the next six overs while being hit for seven boundaries during that period.
Even after the early jolt, West Indies finished the first session with the upper hand, scoring 114 runs in 33 overs at the expense of three wickets.
But Bangladesh made a stunning comeback at the latter stage of the second session and Taijul revealed how they did that.
"We thought about what we could do [in the second session] as we did not bowl well in the first session and the partnership [between Jermaine Blackwood and Joshua Da Silva] was getting bigger. We planned to bowl consistently, thinking that they may take some risks if we do that," said Taijul after the day's play.
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It, however, took some time for the spinners' ploy to work. Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan was finally able to provide a breakthrough just minutes before Tea as he induced an edge of Joshua Da Silva's bat in the 93rd over, breaking Windies' crucial 99-run sixth-wicket stand.
Bangladesh got another wicket in the very next over with Mehedi Hasan Miraz removing Blackwood after a 146-ball 68 as the umpires signalled for Tea.
And after that, spinners Taijul, Mehedi and Nayeem kept scalping wickets thick and fast in a West Indies batting collapse that saw the visitors lose their last five wickets in just 23 deliveries and get bundled out for 259.
"Actually Test cricket is like that. Once you get a breakthrough, wickets keep falling one after another after that," added Taijul.
Bangladesh played without Shakib Al Hasan today as the star all-rounder was taken for a scan for an injury he picked while fielding on Day 2 of the Test. The scan revealed that Shakib has suffered a strain on his left thigh and hence his participation in the remaining Test is doubtful.
With clouds over Shakib's participation, Taijul would have to be even more sensible and shoulder more responsibility being the only other left-armer in the XI. Taijul, who thought a score between 300-350 would be defendable, remained optimistic about winning the game even without Shakib.
"I am confident. You can not say anything for sure in cricket but we made a comeback and I am hopeful that we will do good tomorrow and the day after that," concluded Taijul.
I am sure Bangladesh won this test series.