WI vs BAN: Taijul stars as Bangladesh draw series with 101-run win in 2nd Test
Bangladesh secured a historic victory in the Caribbean, defeating the West Indies by 101 runs at Sabina Park to draw the Test series. This marked their first Test win in the West Indies in 15 years.
Set a challenging target of 287, the West Indies fell short, all out for 185 in less than two sessions. Bangladesh had lost their previous seven Tests in the Caribbean, including the first match of this series in Antigua, but their performance in this match brought them level in the short series.
Taijul Islam was the star performer for Bangladesh, taking 5-50 in the West Indies’ second innings. It was his best overseas bowling performance in 2 1/2 years and his best figures in the West Indies since his Test debut in 2014. With the pitch offering grip and occasional low bounce, Taijul’s spin caused the West Indies’ collapse, with the last six wickets falling for just 42 runs.
In Bangladesh’s second innings, Jaker Ali played a crucial role, scoring a career-best 91. His innings included five sixes and eight boundaries, and he was the last man out just before lunch, giving West Indies a challenging target. Jaker’s aggressive batting ensured Bangladesh’s total was competitive, despite a lower-order collapse.
West Indies’ Struggle in the Chase
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite led a positive start to the chase but could not form a lasting partnership. He was dismissed for 43, and the team struggled to build momentum. Mikyle Louis and Keacy Carty fell to Taijul and Taskin Ahmed, and Brathwaite’s departure further hindered the chase. Kavem Hodge, who scored a half-century, tried to keep the West Indies in the game, but once he fell for 55, the rest of the team quickly followed.
Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and Nahid Rana joined Taijul in dismantling the West Indies’ lower order. Taijul’s brilliant spell earned him his 15th career five-wicket haul, trapping Joshua Da Silva to seal the victory for Bangladesh.
The West Indies’ chase began with promise, but they failed to maintain consistency. Brathwaite’s 43 and Hodge’s 55 were the highlights, but they were unable to sustain the required partnerships. Bangladesh’s bowlers, particularly Taijul, exploited the conditions expertly, and the West Indies were bowled out for 185, falling 101 runs short.
This victory not only gave Bangladesh their first win in the Caribbean in 15 years but also ended their losing streak in the region, with both teams sharing the spoils in the series.