Wisden
1st Test

Bangladesh v West Indies, 2012-13

Utpal Shuvro

At Mirpur, November 13-17, 2012. West Indies won by 77 runs. Toss: West Indies. Test debuts: Sohag Gazi; V. Permaul.


Kieran Powell celebrates his century, Bangladesh v West Indies, 1st Test, Mirpur, 1st day, November 13, 2012
Powell's twin hundreds was only the 11th instance of two in a match by a West Indian © Associated Press
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It was a surprise for the early morning crowd. Was that Sohag Gazi, the new kid on the block? And was he really bowling the first over, with the fearsome Chris Gayle on strike? Yes, it was indeed Gazi, the first debutant slow bowler to take the new ball in the first innings of a Test, since the England legspinner Douglas Carr at The Oval against Australia in 1909.

It took only one ball to add to the history: Gazi's first delivery was deposited over long-on, the first instance of a six off the first ball of a Test. Gayle hit Gazi's fourth ball over the rope too, and 18 (including four leg-byes) came from the over. But Mushfiqur Rahim bravely kept Gazi on, and was rewarded when Gayle holed out at long-off in his third over, aiming for six more.

And a Test which started in such dramatic fashion had an equally exciting finish. After both teams passed 500 in their first innings - Bangladesh's 556 was a new national record - a draw seemed likely until West Indies slid from 209 for 1 to 273 all out. Gazi rounded off the collapse, taking the last four wickets on the final morning (including Chanderpaul, who was ill and batted at No. 11) to finish with 6 for 74, the best debut figures for Bangladesh. That left a tempting target of 245 in two and a half sessions for them to complete a rare Test victory - only for the Bangladeshis to crumble to another defeat in depressingly familiar fashion.

Another new cap, slow left-armer Veerasammy Permaul from Guyana, was expected to be the main threat in the West Indian attack, along with the unorthodox spin of Narine - but it was the wholehearted Best, continuing the good form he had displayed since his surprise recall earlier in the year, who tipped the balance on the last day. Tearing in, and typically unafraid to unleash the bouncer, Best took four wickets either side of lunch, which in effect ended Bangladesh's dreams: fittingly, it was Best who ended the match, castling Mahmudullah an hour into the final session to complete his first five-for in Tests.

While the West Indian players celebrated, Bangladesh's looked woebegone. They had, after all, responded to a huge score with one of their own, passing 500 for the first time: only twice previously had a team exceeded their eventual total and gone on to lose. In a display of old-fashioned Test cricket (at least after the early fireworks from Gayle), West Indies had amassed 527 for 4 before declaring. After the well-organised Powell made his second Test century, Chanderpaul ground his way to his 26th, and extended it to his second score of 203 not out, in more than seven and a half hours. He put on an unbroken 296 with Ramdin, who completed his third Test hundred.

Bangladesh's spirited reply was based on Naeem Islam's maiden Test century, a dogged affair a` la Chanderpaul. He put on 167 with Shakib Al Hasan, a record for their fourth wicket, and Nasir Hossain and Mahmudullah kept up the fight. They went past the country's previous highest total - 488 against Zimbabwe at Chittagong in 2004-05 - before Mahmudullah was caught at bat-pad. Nasir, who hit four sixes, was unlucky to miss a maiden century of his own, edging low to Gayle at slip.

Gayle fell before the arrears were cleared, but Powell made another fine century - only the 11th instance of two in a match by a West Indian - and a draw looked likely as his side cruised past 200 for the loss of one wicket towards the end of the fourth day. Then came one collapse, swiftly followed by another. Bangladesh had taken a first-innings lead for only the ninth time in their 74 Tests - but in the end it was not enough, as they slid to their 64th defeat.

Man of the Match: K. O. A. Powell.

Close of play: first day, West Indies 361-4 (Chanderpaul 123, Ramdin 52); second day, Bangladesh 164-3 (Naeem Islam 27, Shakib Al Hasan 16); third day, Bangladesh 455-6 (Nasir Hossain 33, Mahmudullah 42); fourth day, West Indies 244-6 (Sammy 15).

© John Wisden & Co.