GROS ISLET, May 30: Bangladesh posted their highest Test total before being dismissed for 416 on the third day of the first Test against West Indies on Sunday.
Resuming on their overnight score of 406 for nine, the tourists lost Mohammad Rafique for 111 to be bowled out in 135.3 overs.
Left-arm fast bowler Pedro Collins, with four for 83, was chief wicket-taker for West Indies. Bangladesh's previous Test best was 400, achieved against India in Dhaka in 2000-01. West Indies, who lost Devon Smith run out for a duck, reached 87 for one shortly after the lunch interval with Chris Gayle (44) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (38) at the crease.
On Saturday, Rafique delivered the ultimate slap in the face to the West Indies, when he completed his maiden Test hundred, batting at nine on a rain-shortened second day.
Dropped twice on 84 by the hapless Fidel Edwards, the 29-year-old Rafique rode his luck and was unbeaten on 103 to lift Bangladesh to 406 for nine after three hours were lost to a combination of rain and a wet outfield.
Rafique, whose previous Test best score was 32, was dropped by Edwards inside the deep square leg boundary off Sarwan and, in the next over, which Edwards bowled, offered a sharp return chance that the bowler failed to hold.
Rafique maintained his composure and square drove his full-length 138th delivery from Sarwan through cover for the last of his 11 fours and two sixes that decorated his 211-minute stay at the crease to reach the milestone.
It triggered jovial celebrations on the balcony of the Bangladeshi dressing room which had applauded captain Habibul Bashar's third Test hundred the previous day, and immediately prompted an offer from umpires Daryl Harper of Australia and Jeremy Lloyds of England of light to Rafique and last man Tareq Aziz with 7.5 overs remaining.
Scoreboard
BANGLADESH (1st Innings, overnight 406-9):
Hannan Sarkar lbw b Collins 0
Javed Omar c D.S. Smith b Collins 32
Habibul Bashar c D.R. Smith b Lawson 113
Rajin Saleh c Jacobs b Sarwan 26
Mohammad Ashraful lbw b Lawson 81
Faisal Hossain c Best b Collins 5
Mushfiqur Rahman c Jacobs b Sarwan 1
Khaled Mashud st Jacobs b Gayle 2
Mohammad Rafique b Collins 111
Tapash Baisya c and b Sarwan 9
Tareq Aziz not out 6
EXTRAS (LB-10, W-1, NB-19) 30
TOTAL (all out, 135.3 overs) 416
FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-121, 3-171, 4-227, 5-238, 6-241, 7-250, 8-337, 9-370.
