Windies in command of the second Test after second day

A stellar batting performance and a terrific start with the ball put the West Indies in command of the second Test between them and Bangladesh at stumps on day two. Bangladesh are still 304 runs behind with the top four back in the pavilion and they have to bat really well in order to come back into the game.

The first session was extremely significant for both the sides and the West Indies batsmen stamped their authority in the first hour. Bangladesh bowlers weren't consistent on a pitch that was a bit more helpful than the previous day. 

Nkrumah Bonner, who started the day with an unbeaten 74, was the more sedate of the two batsmen. Joshua Da Silva batted very well, especially against the spinners. 

Bonner was denied a maiden Test century by Mehidy Hasan Miraz who picked up his 99th Test wicket. Bonner made a well-made 90 off 209 balls with the help of seven fours and got out when the West Indies were 266 for six.

Onus was then on the Bangladesh bowlers to put pressure on the batsmen and quickly wrap things up. But Alzarri Joseph had other ideas. He was sent in ahead of Rahkeem Cornwall. Joseph struggled a little bit against the spinners early on but soon found his feet. He added 118 with Da Silva for the 7th wicket before the latter was flummoxed by Taijul Islam with an arm-ball. Da Silva missed a deserving century by only eight runs. This was the first time since 1975 that two West Indies batsmen got out in the nineties in the same innings. 

Joseph got out in the next over too, but the damage was already done. He played an enterprising knock of 82 off just 108 balls. His innings had eight fours and five sixes.

Bangladesh got rid of the next two batsmen in five overs and the West Indies were all-out for 409. Notably, no visiting team have so far lost a Test match scoring this many in the first innings in Bangladesh. 

Abu Jayed and Taijul Islam picked up four-wicket hauls for Bangladesh. 

Bangladesh batsmen had to start well in order to gain some of the lost ground. But they were off to the worst possible beginning with Soumya Sarkar gifted a catch to short mid-wicket in the very first over. He perished without bothering the scorers.

Najmul Hossain Shanto, who came in at three, didn't last long either. He played a cracking drive off Shannon Gabriel and tried to drive again in the very next ball that was pitched a little wider. The ball flew off the edge to gully where Nkrumah Bonner was placed. Bangladesh were then 11 for two.

Mominul Haque and Tamim Iqbal had the rebuilding process going for close to an hour. The pair added 58 in 12.4 overs before the Bangladesh skipper was undone by Rahkeem Cornwall by a bit of extra bounce. Mominul made 21.

Tamim Iqbal fell in the next over too, flicking a length ball from Joseph straight to short mid-wicket. The southpaw was going pretty well before he got out and his dismissal left Bangladesh tottering at 71 for four. Tamim struck six fours and a six in his 52-ball-44.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mithun grinded it out in the final hour and a half to ensure that there were no more casualties before stumps. Bangladesh finished at 105 for four with Mushfiqur Rahim unbeaten on 27 off 60 and Mithun 6 off 61.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh 105/4 in 36 overs (Tamim 44, Mominul 21, Mushfiq 27*) 

West Indies 410 in 142.2 overs (Da Silva 92, Jayed 4/98)

Bangladesh by 304 runs.