Dhaka, Oct30, (V7N)– A yet another reckless batting show cost Bangladesh dearly as they failed to establish complete control of the first cricket Test against West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Paying the price for their wayward batting, Bangladesh slumped to 79-6 at stumps on Day 3, which was curtailed again by bad light, extending their lead only to 105 runs.

But with the pitch still offering plenty of turn and bounce for the spinners, Bangladesh can still hope a target beyond 150 could give them an edge.

After bowling out West Indies for 245 and taking a 27-run first-innings lead, Bangladesh fell into the trap of West Indies spinners.

The initial blow came from pacer Shamar Joseph, who dismissed Tanzid Hasan Tamim for a duck in the second over of Bangladesh's second innings.

Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican and captain Roston Chase, an off-spinner, got into the act immediately after Tanzid's dismissal. Chase removed Shadman Islam, the centurion of the first innings, for 13 and Towhid Hridoy (2) in three balls before getting rid of his opposite number Najmul Hossain Shanto for 10.

Warrican, who claimed five wickets in Bangladesh's first innings, sent back Liton Das, trapping him lbw for 4, leaving Bangladesh at 35-5. He also broke the brief resistance of Mehidy Hasan Miraz by rattling his stumps on 9 as Bangladesh were reduced to 53-6.

Jaker Ali Anik, who came in as a concussion substitute for Mominul Haque after the batter was hit on his head while fielding at short leg, was batting on 18 with Nayeem Hasan also on 18 when the day's play was called off.

Resuming at 134-4, Tagenarine Chanderpaul's assured presence at the crease alongside Justin Greaves appeared to give West Indies full control of the game. But off-spinner Nayeem Hasan claimed 4-33 to play a key role in bowling out West Indies for 245.

Chanderpaul's stubbornness on a spin-favourable wicket rewarded him with his third Test half-century, from 164 balls, when he flicked Taijul Islam for a single. However, soon after reaching a laborious 50, he edged a delivery off pacer Shoriful Islam to second slip, ending a 65-run partnership with Greaves for the fifth wicket. Chanderpaul played 184 balls for 56 runs, including six fours and one six.

Greaves and skipper Roston Chase looked solid at the crease after Chanderpaul's departure as they took the side past 200 runs. Nayeem dismissed Greaves for 46 before taking the wickets of Shamar Joseph and Jomel Warrican to confirm Bangladesh's first-innings lead. Chase was stranded on 43.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 272 in their first innings.

Play is scheduled to resume on Saturday, with Bangladesh hoping their lower order can push the lead towards a competitive total before attempting to bowl out West Indies on a deteriorating surface.

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