Shakib's fall pushes West Indies closer to win

KHULNA, Bangladesh (AFP) –

Bangladeshi allrounder Shakib Al Hasan plays a shot during the fourth day of the second Test at The Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna. Hasan followed his four wickets with a fighting 97 to delay West Indies’ likely win in the second Test.

Bangladeshi allrounder Shakib Al Hasan followed his four wickets with a fighting 97 to delay West Indies’ likely win in the second and final Test in Khulna on Saturday.

The 25-year-old left-hander missed his third Test hundred by a mere three runs but carried the home team from a precarious 82-5 to 262-6 at close on the fourth day, still needing 35 to avoid an innings defeat.

Shakib fell off the first ball of the penultimate over of the day, miscuing a lofted shot off left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and was caught simply at mid-off by Tino Best.

Shakib and Nasir Hossain made a record sixth wicket stand for Bangladesh against the West Indies of 144, with Hossain finishing on 64 not out from an aggressive innings.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy (left) congratulates Veerasammy Permaul (2nd left) after the dismissal of the unseen Bangladeshi batsman Shakib Al Hasan during the fourth day of the second Test in Khulna. Hasan followed his four wickets with a fighting 97 to delay West Indies’ likely win in the Test match.

Paceman Best (3-26) had put the West Indies on course for an innings victory with a triple strike in the post lunch session but Shakib and Nasir ensured Bangladesh will not go down without a fight.

Best had opener Tamim Iqbal (28) with the first ball of his first over, then rattled Naeem Islam’s stump with a sharp incoming delivery with his fourth ball before dismissing Shahriar Nafees (21) in his third over.

Bangladesh were off to a disastrous start when opener Nazimuddin was trapped leg-before for nought off paceman Fidel Edwards’s third ball of the innings.

Iqbal and Nafees took the score to 49 with the help of eight boundaries between them before Best was introduced.

Captain Mushfiqur Rahim was bowled for ten by Permaul who took 2-51.

Best said Shakib’s wicket turned the match in his team’s favour.

West Indies bowler Tino Best reacts after the dismissal of Bangladesh batsman Shahriar Nafees (unseen) during the fourth day of the second Test. Bangladeshi allrounder Shakib Al Hasan followed his four wickets with a fighting 97 to delay West Indies’ likely win in the second and final Test in Khulna.

“I think breaking this partnership this evening was the turning point in the game. Shakib played fantastic, just wrong shot selection again and I think he’s young and will improve,” said Best, who took five wickets in West Indies’ 77-run win in the first Test in Dhaka.

“I got some inswing and outswing and at my pace it is going to help me on slow pitches.”

Earlier, Shakib became only the second Bangladeshi bowler to complete 100 wickets in Test cricket as he dismissed four batsmen in the morning session before the tourists declared on 648-9 after resuming at 564-4.

West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul remained unbeaten on a brilliant 150. The experienced left-hander hit 12 fours and a six off 282 balls. He also hit 203 not out in the first Test.

It was the West Indies’s highest total in a Test against Bangladesh, improving on the 559-4 declared they managed at Kingston eight years ago.

West Indies bowler Tino Best (centre) celebrates the dismissal of Bangladesh’s Shahriar Nafees (unseen) during the fourth day of the second Test at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna. Bangladeshi allrounder Shakib Al Hasan followed his four wickets with a fighting 97 to delay West Indies’ likely win in the second Test.

Shakib had Denesh Ramdin caught behind off a wild shot for 31 and then two balls later forced an edge off Darren Sammy which was well caught by Mohammad Mahmudullah in the slips to complete his 100 Test wickets.

He then removed Permaul (13) and Sunil Narine in the last over before lunch to finish with 4-151.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique was the only other Bangladeshi bowler to get 100 wickets in Test cricket.