Bangladesh boosted by maiden Islam ton in W.Indies Test

DHAKA (AFP) –

Bangladesh cricketer Naeem Islam acknowledges the crowd as he reacts after scoring a century (100 runs) during the third day of the first Test match between Bangladesh and The West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, on November 15.

Naeem Islam’s maiden century helped Bangladesh comfortably avoid the follow-on on the third day of the first Test against the West Indies in Dhaka on Thursday.

Islam was unbeaten on 102 at tea with captain Mushfiqur Rahim 32 not out as Bangladesh reached 349-4, thwarting West Indian efforts to enforce the follow-on on a lifeless Shere Bangla stadium pitch.

The home side trailed the West Indies’ mammoth first innings score of 527-4 by 178 runs.

Islam and Shakib Al Hasan (89) earlier set a new Bangladeshi record for the fourth wicket in all Tests with a 167-run partnership as the tourists failed to make a breakthrough in the first session after the hosts resumed at 164-3.

Shakib showed aggression while Islam proved a rock at the other end, foiling the West Indies attack to add 88 in the morning session.

Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan (L) and teammate Naeem Islam walk off the field at close of play on the second day of the first Test match between Bangladesh and West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, on November 14.

Shakib was dismissed for 89 soon after the lunch break by paceman Ravi Rampaul.

He hit 10 fours and a six in his 143-ball innings but failed to keep a drive down and was caught in the covers, showing great disappointment at missing out on a well-deserved hundred.

The Shakib-Islam stand bettered the 120 runs between Habibul Bashar and Manjural Islam against the West Indies at Kingston in 2004.

Naeem reached his first Test century with a four to fine-leg off paceman Tino Best, the 17th boundary of his innings.

The West Indian bowlers were forced to toil hard despite taking the second new ball after 82 overs, with mystery spinner Sunil Narine the biggest disappointment, conceding 87 runs in his 19 wicketless overs.

Rampaul was the pick of bowlers with 3-89.