Fast bowler Hasan Mahmud claimed 6 for 90 as Bangladesh bowled West Indies out for 356 on the second day of the second Test in Sylhet on Friday, in a fine individual performance that briefly lifted the home side.
Mahmud, bowling with pace and movement at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, ran through the West Indies batting order as the visitors were dismissed in 106.4 overs. The hosts, however, ended the day struggling at 88 for 3, still 268 runs behind the visitors’ first-innings total.
Amir Jangoo was the top scorer for West Indies, hitting 133 off 212 balls with 13 fours and two sixes, before Mahmud clean-bowled him with a sharply swinging delivery. Kevin Wickham made 61 and Justin Greaves added 51, while captain Roston Chase was dismissed for a golden duck.
The haul was Mahmud’s fifth five-wicket return in Test cricket, making him the first Bangladesh fast bowler to reach that mark. He moved past Shahadat Hossain, with whom he had previously shared the record of four five-wicket hauls for a Bangladesh pacer. It was also his second six-wicket haul in the format, and his first five-wicket haul on home soil.
Mahmud also joined an elite list with the performance, becoming only the second bowler in Test history, after Australia’s Nathan Lyon, to take five-wicket hauls in five different countries. His five hauls have come in Pakistan, India, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and now Bangladesh.
There was further drama when new batter Joshua Bishop survived the hat-trick ball after a review overturned an lbw decision, denying Mahmud a second Test hat-trick. Mahmud eventually accounted for Bishop and Shamar Joseph to finish with figures of 6 for 90 from 24 overs, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz provided support by dismissing Greaves and Jayden Seales.
Bangladesh’s reply began badly. The hosts lost opener Shadman Islam to an ankle injury and were soon in trouble, reaching the close with Towhid Hridoy unbeaten on 29 and Mushfiqur Rahim on 19. West Indies, who already lead the series 1-0, seized control with early wickets and left Bangladesh facing a demanding third day.
Mahmud’s effort was the standout moment of the day, but the scoreboard still favoured the visitors. West Indies’ lower order had refused to surrender, with a stubborn 33-run final-wicket partnership between Seales and Jomel Warrican carrying them from 301 for 8 to 356.
Bangladesh will resume on the third day with seven first-innings wickets in hand and a substantial deficit to erase. Their hopes of saving the match will rest heavily on Hridoy and Mushfiqur, and on the middle order that must now bat long against a West Indies attack full of confidence.
