New Delhi:
Bangladesh secured their first-ever innings win in Test cricket as they decimated West Indies by an innings and 184 runs in the Mirpur match to sweep the two-Test series 2-0. The match was dominated by Mehidy Hasan’s magnificent 12 wickets and his efforts, combined with the all-round brilliance of Shakib Al Hasan ensured Bangladesh secured their biggest-ever win in Tests. The victory was even more significant, considering that in the previous series, they had lost a Test to Zimbabwe. West Indies lost 13 wickets on the third day as they suffered trial by spin.
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Resuming at 75/7 in pursuit of Bangladesh’s mammoth total of 508, Mehidy Hasan picked up two more wickets to finish with 7/58, the third-best figures by a Bangladesh bowler in Tests behind Taijul Islam (8/39 vs Zimbabwe 2014) and Shakib (7/36 vs New Zealand, Chittagong). The Bangladesh captain took the last wicket and West Indies were bowled out for 111. Trailing by 397 runs, Bangladesh enforced the follow-on and instead of showing some fight, the Windies capitulated even badly in the second innings.
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Mehidy and Shakib once again decimated the West Indies top order as they were left reeling at 29/4. However, Shimron Hetmyer decided to take the attack to the spinners and launch a glorious counter-attack. The young left-hander dealt in only sixes as wickets kept tumbling at the other end. He was especially severe on Shakib, whom he hit for four sixes and also on Taijul, whom he blasted three sixes. His tally of nine sixes put him level with Chris Gayle for the most sixes in an innings but he missed out on a century when he miscued Mehidy to be out for 93.
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Kemar Roach and Shermon Lewis frustrated Bangladesh’s with a 42-run stand for the last wicket. The victory was sealed when Taijul trapped Lewis for 20 to spark off wild celebrations in the Bangladesh camp. This was their second series win against West Indies, having earlier beaten them 2-0 in the 2009 series. Mehidy was rightfully the Man of the Match, his haul of 12/117 becoming the best-ever individual haul in a Test for Bangladesh.
Speaking after the end of the match, Shakib said the players were committed to doing well. “Every time the batsmen got in, they made it count. All four spinners were great, especially Miraz, the way he bowled today was fantastic. Nayeem bowled really well in both Tests, even though the wickets column doesn't show it,” Shakib said.
Bangladesh will now take on West Indies in three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals as they look to continue their great run.
