Mominul, Mehidy put Bangladesh on top

Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan (2nd-L) celebrates the wicket of West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite (R) with team-mates on the fourth day of their first Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Saturday. —  AFP photo

Sports desk:  Skipper Mominul Haque’s record-setting century and three late strikes from Mehidy Hasan put Bangladesh in pole position heading into the final day of the first Test against West Indies as they need just seven more wickets to go 1-0 up in the two-match series in Chattogram.

Mominul became the first Bangladeshi batsman to take his tally of Test centuries into double digits with a commanding 115 and Liton Das lent him ample support with 69 as Bangladesh declared their second innings on 223-8, setting up a daunting 395-run target for the visitors.

Mehidy, who struck a century and took four wickets in the first innings, took 3-52 in the final session before debutants Kyle Mayers (37) and Nkrumah Bonner (15) showed some resistance and took their side to 110-3 at stumps.

West Indies now need another 285 runs in a slow turning pitch at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium while the hosts need seven wickets to earn their first points in the ICC World Test Championships.

Bangladesh began the day on 47-3, with a 171-run lead, but lost overnight batsman Mushfiqur Rahim in the first hour as off-spinner Rahkeem Corwall, who had struck twice on the second  day, trapped him leg before wicket for 18.

Liton then came out to bat at number six as Shakib Al Hasan, who batted at that number in the first innings, was unavailable to bat as he is still suffering from a thigh injury that he sustained on day two and is unlikely to take part on the final day.

Mominul and Liton took the team to Lunch break without any more damage and after the interval reached their personal landmarks, with Liton bringing up his sixth Test fifty followed by Mominul bringing up his seventh Test ton at the venue.

The pair made sure that the Bangladesh attack will have a total excess of 350 to defend with their 133-run fifth wicket stand, the only hundred-run partnership in this match so far.

The partnership ended when Liton tried to play a reverse sweep off Jomel Warrican only to hit it straight to Kyle Mayers.

Mominul followed his partner to the dressing room in the very next over when he tried to take the aerial route against Shannon Gabriel only to get caught at the edge of the boundary by Kemar Roach.

Warrican dismissed Taijul Islam (three) and Mehidy (seven) just two balls apart after which Mominul signalled the declaration.

Chasing an improbable target, West Indies opening pair of Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell stayed together for 16 overs before Mehidy removed both batsmen in consecutive overs and dismissed Shayne Moseley in the same spell to reduce them to 59-3.

Mayers, who made 40 in the first innings, then attacked the Bangladesh’s spinners, hitting seven fours in his 50-ball innings, while Bonner held one end up.