Bangladesh vs West Indies – Fidel Edwards destroys Bangladesh

Match Report – Day 2: 2^nd Test, at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, 29 Oct - 2 Nov 2011

After posting a decent first innings total, West Indies were on top of Bangladesh thanks to a ferocious opening spell by Fidel Edwards. The home team recovered well after being 59 for 5, but still there is a gaping gulf between the two sides.

West Indies started the day cautiously but confidently and it was Marlon Samuels who took the initiative to move the score along with couple of good shots for four. Kirk Edwards looked edgy as he neared his hundred. He was dropped by the keeper off Nasir as soon as he entered nineties. After getting life he hit two crushing fours to reach 98 in the same over.

As Shuvo flighted the ball, Kirk Edwards ceased the moment by jumping down and getting to his second Test ton – in 3 Tests – with a lofted four. With partnership between these two going strong, Nasir lifted Bangladesh by removing Samuels with a lovely return catch. Samuels made 48.

From 319 for 6, West Indies slumped to 355 all out as Shakib al Hasan ran through the tail. He dismissed Carlton Baugh and Captain Sammy in the space of three balls, latter being hit wicket in a bizarre fashion. Edwards was eventually out for 121, his highest Test score, soon after Lunch. He hit 14 fours and 2 sixes in a 273-ball knock and was given LBW to Shakib.

Bangladesh needed to have a bright start and it seemed so when Tamim Iqbal started hitting his customary boundaries. After hitting three fours against Kemar Roach, his uninhibited flurry was halted by Fidel Edwards. As he deflected a quick rising delivery towards leg, Bravo leapt in the air to snatch at short leg. It was a bad start by the hosts which could have become even worse had West Indies hung on to two catches in gully, one each off Edwards and Roach.

Shahriar Nafees then perished in a similar fashion to Tamim as Fidel Edward was proving a handful for them. Imrul meanwhile continued to try his luck by playing freely, hitting Roach for a four and a six. But Bangladesh soon were reeling at 59 for 5 as Edwards’ menacing burst continued. He was on hat-trick at one stage after dismissing Raqibul Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim with two contrasting balls. Raqibul was set up for a fuller ball while Rahim feather a rising one to the first slip.

Imrul Kayes eventually succumbed to his indiscretion for 29 as Bangladesh were clueless against the pace and aggression of Fidel Edwards who had taken all five wickets to fall. After starting aggressively, Shakib played for Tea as possibility of an ignominious follow on loomed.

After reaching 50 in 46 balls, he came hard on Sammy whom he carted for three fours in an over. With Naeem Islam giving him good company, Bangladesh’s hopes were revived for a decent total. But that hope took a massive blow when Devendra Bishoo went through Shakib’s bat and pad. He made an entertaining 73 off 74 balls with 9 fours.

Nasir got an early life when Sammy spilled a sitter, but then he and Naeem made good recovery for their team as batting became easier with the older ball. They shared a fighting stand of 52 for 7^th wicket and at one stage looked to close in on the day on high. But unnecessary run out of Naeem Islam in the last over of the day spoiled the show. Naeem made 45 while Nasir was unbeaten on 34 at stumps, coming at numbers 7 and 8 respectively.

The day belonged to West Indies and particularly Fidel Edwards whose pace and bounce troubled Bangladeshi top order, giving his team an edge which might prove decisive in the end.


Summarised Scores:

Bangladesh 204/7 (Shakib 73, Fidel Edwards 5/58) trail West Indies 355 all out (Kirk Edwards 121, Kieran Powell 72: Shakib 5/63) by 151 runs with 3 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

Hero of the Day: Fidel Edwards

Flop of the day: Mushfiqur Rahim

Disappointment of the Day: Tamim Iqbal

Click for SCORECARD

Credits: AP (photo), CricketArchive (scorecard)