West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, right, hits a boundary off a delivery from Enamul Hoque (not in picture) as wicket-keeper captain Khaled Mashud watches on the second day of the first Test in Dhaka yesterday. - ReutersDHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC:
RAMNARESH SARWAN posted his first ever Test hundred and shared in a near double-century stand with Marlon Samuels as the West Indies stayed on a clear victory path over Bangladesh on the second day of their opening Test at the Bangabandhu Stadium yesterday.
Sarwan scored 119 and the West Indies, replying to the meagre Bangladesh first innings score of 139, closed at a commanding 400 for five, with Daren Ganga not out on 34 and Ridley Jacobs on 14.
The fourth-wicket stand between Sarwan and Samuels (91) was worth 176 runs and pushed the West Indies to a bulging 261-run advantage with five wickets in hand, leaving Bangladesh with little chance to escape defeat.
Yet the West Indies had an unsteady start to the second day's play, losing three wickets in the space of four overs early in the session.
Pacer Tapash Baisya struck twice in one over and reduced the Caribbean side to 132 for two from their overnight position of 118 without loss.
He had Chris Gayle (51) caught behind as the big left-hander attempted to drive a wide delivery, and -- four balls later - removed Wavell Hinds for 75, flicking straight to Naimur Rahman at mid-wicket.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (4) departed 18 runs later edging left-arm spinner Enamul Haque to wicket-keeper Khaled Mashud as he pushed forward defensively.
But Sarwan and Samuels steadied the innings and pushed the West Indies confidently to 218 for three at the lunch break, the 22-year-old Sarwan getting to his 50, with eight boundaries, off the last ball of the session.
The young pair piled on the pressure and added 84 runs in the post-lunch session, both going to tea in their 80s with the score on 302 for three, the 21-year-old Samuels typically fluent, and Sarwan, more watchful.
Bangladesh, who crashed on Sunday to their sub-150 score under the attack of pacers Pedro Collins (5-26) and Vasbert Drakes (4-58), celebrated teenage pacer Talha Jubair removing both batsmen in the final session but they could not change the complexion of the game.
Samuels, who thumped 15 fours, added just 10 runs after the tea break before he was trapped leg before wicket, nine short of his second test hundred.
Sarwan, who had scored 14 fifties in his previous 27 Test matches, raised his landmark - off 195 balls with 16 fours -- when he steered a delivery from Haque to short third-man for a single.
He departed at 377 for five when he attempted a flashing cut and edged to Naimur Rahman at third man. He faced 228 balls and struck 19 boundaries.
Jacobs, in his first test match as captain while Carl Hooper recovers from knee surgery, joined Ganga and the two stayed together until the close with the West Indies perfectly placed to push for an innings win.
For Bangladesh, Haque earned most respect from the West Indies batsmen with figures of one for 95 off 38 overs with seven maidens, although Baisya (2-92) and Jubair (2-101) had more wicket success.
