Warrican's Five-Wicket Blitz Triggers Bangladesh Collapse
Jomel Warrican sparks a dramatic Bangladesh collapse as West Indies fight back in the first Test. Read the full match report here.
The first ICC World Test Championship Test between the West Indies and Bangladesh took a dramatic turn on the second morning in Mirpur, as Jomel Warrican's five wicket haul dismantled a promising Bangladesh batting lineup. Despite starting the day in a commanding position, the hosts suffered a staggering collapse, losing their final seven wickets for a mere 59 runs to be bundled out for 272.
The Spin Trap: From Dominance to Disaster
Bangladesh resumed Day 2 at a comfortable 213/3, appearing set for a massive first-innings total. However, the momentum shifted violently when the West Indian left-arm spin duo of Jomel Warrican and debutant Joshua Bishop took control of the game.
The collapse was triggered just as Shadman Islam reached a milestone. After completing his third Test century with a gritty 105, Islam was dismissed by Bishop, opening the floodgates. Towhid Hridoy, who had returned to the crease after retiring hurt on the first evening, attempted to stabilize the innings but fell to Bishop for 42.
Warrican's Masterclass
While Bishop started the rout, Jomel Warrican ensured there was no escape. Warrican first breached the defense of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, putting the hosts on the back foot. Shamar Joseph added to the pressure by removing Nayeem Hasan and Hasan Mahmud in rapid succession.
The finale was a display of absolute dominance by Warrican, who cleaned up the tail by dismissing Taijul Islam and Shoriful Islam on consecutive deliveries. Warrican finished the innings with impressive figures of 5/53.
West Indies Response: A Rollercoaster Start
The West Indies began their reply with intent, though they faced an early setback when Brandon King edged a delivery from Hasan Mahmud to substitute wicketkeeper Jaker Ali.
Recovery came via John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who forged a 61-run partnership for the second wicket. Campbell played the aggressor, finding the boundary frequently and surviving two early dropped catches that proved costly for the Bangladesh fielders.
Rain and Rapid Wickets
The game shifted again during the final session. Following a rain break, Mehidy Hasan Miraz struck back by dismissing Campbell, giving Bangladesh a glimmer of hope to regain control of the match.
What followed was a miniature version of the morning's collapse. Taijul Islam tore through the West Indian middle order, claiming two wickets in a single over to remove Kavem Hodge and Amir Jangoo. In a matter of moments, the West Indies plummeted from 90/1 to 97/4.
Steadying the Ship
With the match hanging in the balance, Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Justin Greaves stepped up to prevent a total meltdown. The pair shared an unbeaten 37-run stand to stabilize the innings before play was halted early due to a combination of rain and fading light.
At stumps, the West Indies stood at 134/4, trailing Bangladesh by 138 runs with six wickets still in hand. Chanderpaul remained the anchor of the innings, unbeaten on 43 with six boundaries, while Greaves stayed not out on 15.