West Indies were hoping to have a crack at the new batter at the crease, Litton Das, but were left disappointed by the early finish on the first day of the Dhaka Test against Bangladesh. The umpires stopped play twice – once at 3.15pm for 53 minutes, and later at 4:23pm – before stumps were called at 5pm. Bangladesh ended the day on 213 for 3.
Litton arrived at the crease in the 66th over after Towhid Hridoy was stretchered off due to cramps. Umpires Nitin Menon and Sam Nogajski checked the light meter as soon as West Indies captain Roston Chase reintroduced fast bowler Shamar Joseph into the attack.
“At the end of the day, the umpires have the last say,” West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, who took two wickets, said. “So obviously, we were a little disappointed because Litton Das came out to bat, so we wanted an opportunity to get a quick wicket and continue to get more wickets in that session.
“But it’s part of cricket. We’ve got to accept the decision the umpires make and be professional and do what we need to do at the time.”
“Early in the day [the pitch] had a lot more moisture and unfortunately, we didn’t get the wickets that we wanted. But not every time things are in your favour or you are going to dominate. So at the end of the day, we made sure we stayed disciplined and picked up key wickets going forward.”
It was Shadman Islam‘s steady approach that kept West Indies at bay all day. Shadman played close to his body on his way to an unbeaten 99. He put on fifty-plus partnerships with Mominul Haque and Hridoy, as Bangladesh ended the first day’s play on a high.
Mohammad Salahuddin, Bangladesh’s batting coach, said Shadman had impressed him with his patience and control of shots.
“I think [Shadman] assessed the wicket very well. He didn’t play a lot of risky shots in the entire day, although most batters have the tendency to play a false shot when the going gets tough. He kept control of his own innings. I have seen Shadman play a long innings after a pretty long time. He was getting out in the fifties and sixties. I think he worked on this too, so I would hope he can extend this innings.”
Play was called off with Shadman unbeaten on 99, and Salahuddin said “the score leaves the whole team nervous.”
“We were hoping he could complete his century on the first day. He has scored only two centuries in 30-odd Tests (31). I think there should have been more centuries. I am hopeful that he can have a better understanding of scoring hundreds with this innings. I think this innings is going to help him in the future.
“I think he realised it himself or spoke to the coaches about [converting fifties]. He doesn’t have a great conversion rate. I think there was something he needed to work in his process. I think he is figuring out how to get better at playing long innings. Maybe making a century will become slightly easier for him,” he said.
West Indies bowled well in the initial exchanges, before getting two wickets in the first session. Warrican said the discipline shown by Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales was impressive.
“I felt Jayden and Shamar put us up in a good foundation, and then me, Joshua [Bishop] and Roston [Chase], we tried to control the scoring. I understand my role as the person to keep things tight, and if I can pick up one or two wickets in doing that, it’s very important, which I did.”
Warrican said that debutant Joshua Bishop bowled well on his first day, and expected him to take a few wickets on the second day.
“He was very consistent, good economy rate. He’s yet to get a wicket but I know he will get some tomorrow. So he’s doing the job for the team, which is to keep things tight. Good economy, which is very, very important in subcontinent conditions. So just want him to continue enjoying it and I know tomorrow could be his day as well.”
Cricinfo
