KINGSTOWN (St Vincent): Opener Tamim Iqbal hit an enterprising 53 on Monday but Bangladesh continued to struggle against the West Indies on day four of the opening Test at Arnos Vale Sports Complex.

Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, who on Sunday claimed a five-wicket haul when Bangladesh tumbled to 182 all out in their first innings replying to the West Indies’ 484-7 declared, took 2-19 while there was a wicket apiece for Kemar Roach (1-18) and Chris Gayle (1-21).

The visitors, forced to follow on after conceding a first innings lead of 302, were 110-4 at lunch. The left-handed Tamim’s top score was spiced with four fours and three sixes off 107 balls.

Benn dismissed Mominul Haque (12) and Tamim just before the interval to derail Bangladesh.

The visitors had an early setback when fast bowler Roach claimed Shamsur Rahman (4) to an edge through the wicket-keeper and skipper Denesh Ramdin at 11-1.

But Tamim and fellow left-hander Imrul Kayes rebuilt strongly in a second wicket stand of 70 in an hour and a half.

Tamim was given out lbw in the first over from Jerome Taylor but successfully got the decision overturned on DRS review.

Imrul was scratchy early on but also found his touch before gifting Gayle his first Test wicket since June 2010 by lofting a drive head high to extra cover at 81-2.

Bangladesh slumped swiftly after that wicket with Benn claiming the scalps of first innings top-scorer Mominul Haque, to a thin edge to Ramdin, and Tamim, bowled as he tried to force off the back foot.

At the break, Mahmudullah was 4 not out with captain Mushfiqur Rahim unbeaten on 1

On Sunday, Benn helped West Indies to take total control. The tall spinner troubled all the batsmen on pitch helping him.

Shamsur Rahman (35) and Mominul Haque (51) provided some much needed resistance as Bangladesh clawed their way to 105-4 but Benn was to run through the lower order.

Only skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, who carried his bat for 48, was able to cope with the turn and bounce generated by the Barbadian left-armer.

Benn ended with figures of 5-39 while batsman Jermaine Blackwood picked up 2-14 with his occasional off-spinners.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES (1st Innings) 484-7 declared (K.C. Brathwaite 212, S. Chanderpaul 85 not out, C.H. Gayle 64, D.M. Bravo 62; Taijul Islam 5-135).

BANGLADESH (1st Innings):

Tamim Iqbal c Bravo b Roach 1

Shamsur Rahman c Bravo b Benn 35

Imrul Kayes c Bravo b Taylor 9

Mominul Haque c Ramdin b Gabriel 51

M. Mahmudullah lbw b Blackwood 7

Mushfiqur Rahim not out 48

Nasir Hossain c Benn b Blackwood 2

Shuvagata Hom c and b Benn 16

Taijul Islam c Bravo b Benn 2

Rubel Hossain c Ramdin b Benn 1

Al-Amin Hossain c Bravo b Benn 5

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-2, NB-1) 5

TOTAL (all out, 71.4 overs) 182

FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-18, 3-80, 4-105, 5-110, 6-118, 7-147, 8-155, 9-166.

BOWLING: Taylor 15-4-46-1; Roach 13-4-31-1; Gabriel 13-2-50-1; Benn 24.4-8-39-5 (1nb); Blackwood 6-1-14-2.

BANGLADESH (following-on, 2nd Innings):

Tamim Iqbal b Benn 53

Shamsur Rahman c Ramdin b Roach 4

Imrul Kayes c Edwards b Gayle 25

Mominul Haque c Ramdin b Benn 12

M. Mahmudullah not out 4

Mushfiqur Rahim not out 1

EXTRAS (B-8, LB-2, W-1) 11

TOTAL (for four wkts, 39 overs) 110

FALL OF WKTS: 1-11, 2-81, 3-104, 4-107.

BOWLING (to-date): Taylor 4-0-16-0; Roach 6-3-18-1 (1w); Gabriel 5-4-1-0; Blackwood 6-1-25-0; Benn 11-4-19-2; Gayle 7-1-21-1.

Published in Dawn, September 9th , 2014