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Sarwan spins 'em back

Wednesday, June 2 2004

A much-improved bowling and catching effort by Bangladesh was undermined late by the part-time spin of Ramnaresh Sarwan, as the West Indies edged into the driver's seat in the first Test in St. Lucia. Sarwan grabbed 3 for 22 to rip through the Bangladeshi middle order and set their score back from 73/3 to 79/6, eventually closing on 94/6, a lead of 158 with a day remaining.

Play began late on day four, due to rain, but that did not deter the Bangladeshi seamers. With a new ball, they stuck to their task and troubled the batsmen somewhat, before breaking through by dismissing Gayle for 141. The rest of the batsmen then surrendered rather meekly, Best (3) conspiring to be beaten in the flight by Rafiqe and bowled, Collins (4) driving loosely outside offstump and being caught at slip, Lawson (0) doing the same as Collins and then Edwards (5) swinging madly across the line, LBW - 352 all out.

Mushfiqur Rahman was the leading bowler for Bangladesh with figures of 25.4-8-65-4, his best in Test cricket. At the end of the innings, Jacobs was left high and dry on 46 not out.

Batting again with a 64-run lead, Bangladesh were made to face some disturbingly wayward bowling from the West Indies quicks. When Edwards finally found a line though, the breakthrough came - Sarkar (9) bowled without playing a shot.

In the very next over, Omar followed Sarkar back into the pavilion, edging an attempted flick to a badly-lined Collins offering - 21/2. With the team in trouble once more, Habibul Bashar (25) and Rajin Saleh (34 not out) set about to repair the damage. The two comfortably saw the score to 70, when Best (who entered the attack rather belatedly) struck, bowling Bashar.

Mohammad Ashraful (1) lasted just 3 balls, when he gave Sarwan a return catch. Debutant Faisal Hossain (2) brought his match total to 7 runs before he too perished to the legspin of Sarwan. Sarwan then completed his trio of wickets, Mushfiqur Rahman LBW first ball without scoring.

Another recovery then came from Saleh and Mashud, to take Bangladesh to stumps without further loss. Saleh has thus far faced 68 balls for his unbeaten 34 and Mashud has faced 35 for his unbeaten 8.

Match Summary:

Bangladesh 1st innings 416 ao (135.3 overs)
(Habibul Bashar 113, Mohammad Rafique 111, Mohammad Ashraful 81)
(PT Collins 4/83, RR Sarwan 3/59, JJC Lawson 2/66)

West Indies innings 352 ao (116.4 overs)
(CH Gayle 141, BC Lara 53, RD Jacobs 46 not out)
(Mushfiqur Rahman 4/67, Mohammad Rafique 3/90)

Bangladesh 2nd innings 94/6 (32 overs)
(Rajin Saleh 34 not out, Habibul Bashar 25)
(RR Sarwan 3/22)

Posted by Liam