West Indies pulls out win from draw… from defeat

A great 5-for performance by pacer Tino Best, along with help from newcomer Veerasammy Permaul (3-32) was enough to give the West Indies a 1-0 lead in the 2-Test series against Bangladesh in Bangladesh.

I would be unfair if I didn’t mention the great Shiv Chanderpaul whose first inning double-century, an unbeaten 203 runs, did the tourists a lot of justice.  But, the match belonged to man-of-the match and youngster, Kieran Powell, who made 117 and 108 runs respectively.

In a match where 2 of the 3 master batsmen (Jamaicans Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels) failed in both innings, and rising star, spinner, Sunil Narine only picked up 3 wickets for 204 runs, it was those 4 (Chanders, Powell, Best, and Permaul) who combined to pulled out the improbable win.

This match is heading for a draw

day 1 – West Indies 1st innings 361-4 (things looking good for West Indies on batting pitch)
day 2 – Bangladesh 1st innings 164-3 (things looking great for West Indies, declaring at 527-4)
day 3 – Bangladesh 1st innings 455-6 (Bangladesh fights back nicely– match heading for draw?)
day 4 – West Indies 2nd innings 244-6 (Bangladesh all out for 556, leads by 29 runs — certain draw?)

Wait !!! West Indies should lose

day 5 part 1 – Bangladesh 2nd innings 167 (West indies all out for 273 early, Bangladesh needs only 245 to win. Easy right?)
day 5 part 2 – Not an easy win… In fact NO! Tino was at his best on a pitch that started to crack on day 4 bagging 5 for 24, skittling the home side out for 167 and giving his West Indian team an improbable 77 run win.

Congratulations to the Darren Sammy-led West Indian team.  Next test is on Wednesday Bangladesh time (Tuesday night Eastern Standard Time) .

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