GROS ISLET, May 31: Early morning rain and a wet outfield combined to restrict play on the fourth day in the opening cricket Test between West Indies and Bangladesh on Monday.
West Indies, resuming at 262 for five, were 310 for five at lunch with Chris Gayle (133) and Ridley Joacobs (18) putting on exactly 50 for the unbroken sixth-wicket partnership. On Sunday, a purposeful, undefeated fifth Test hundred from Gayle had helped to bring some respectability back to the West Indies batting on the third day.
The left-hander smote 14 boundaries in an unbeaten 110 from 246 balls in just over six hours to be the cornerstone of the West Indies' innings, replying to Bangladesh's first innings total of 416, when bad light stopped play 13 overs early.
Gayle rode a wave of fortune on the way to his landmark, being dropped on 24, 28 and 47 to underline the poor catching of the visitors. Bangladesh dropped six catches all told and missed a golden opportunity to tighten the noose around the necks of the West Indies.
Gayle batted circumspectly through his side's innings and shared in three half-century partnerships with vice captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, captain Brian Lara and right-hander Dwayne Smith. Mohammad Rafique with two for 81 from 30 overs was the most successful Bangladesh bowler.
Gayle and Sarwan helped West Indies recover from the early setback of losing left-handed opener Devon Smith run out for zero backing up too far in the second over of the innings. After Smith failed to beat Faisal Hossain's throw from backward point to bowler Tareq Aziz, Gayle and Sarwan batted with aplomb to take West Indies to 68 for one at lunch.
Bangladesh missed two chances in the final half-hour before the interval to inflict further agony on the West Indies, when Gayle was twice missed off Tareq in the slip cordon. Hannan Sarkar missed a regulation catch at second slip when Gayle was on 24 and, in Tareq's next over, Rajin Saleh failed to hold a low, sharp chance at gully when the left-hander was on 28.
After the interval, the wickets of Sarwan and Lara helped to bring Bangladesh back into the Test at tea. Sarwan was caught at deep backward square leg for 40 off Tapash Baisya and Lara was caught behind off Mushfiqur Rahman for 53.
Gayle had continued to plunder the bowling, mixing sound defence and measured aggression. He and Sarwan added 87 for the second wicket before the West Indies vice-captain was lulled into a false sense of security and top-edged a hook at a short, rising ball. Sarwan hit four fours and one six from 75 balls in 109 minutes.
Gayle was almost a passenger in a stand of 73 for the third wicket with Lara, who was just beginning to get into the swing of things, when he top-edged a late cut and Khaled Mashud snaffled up the catch. Lara batted for 92 minutes, faced 76 balls and struck seven fours.
In between those dismissals, Bangladesh dropped four more catches. Gayle, Sarwan, Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul all benefitted from at least one missed chance. After the break, Bangladesh continued to apply the pressure and were rewarded with the wickets of Chanderpaul and Dwayne Smith.
Chanderpaul was caught behind for seven off Rafique, who also had Dwayne Smith caught at wide long on for 42. Chanderpaul never suggested permanence and edged to Mashud playing defensively forward, but this paved the way for a stand of 71 between Gayle and the flambuoyant Smith.
Gayle continued to play circumspectly and square drove a delivery from Rafique through cover for two to arrive at his landmark, while Smith, at the other end, played some audacious strokes to strike five fours from 66 balls in 79 minutes before lofting a catch to Tareq in the deep.
Scoreboard
BANGLADESH (1st Innings) 416 (Habibul Bashar 113, Mohammad Rafique 111, Mohammad Ashraful 81; P.T. Collins 4-83).
WEST INDIES (1st Innings, overnight 262-5):
D.S. Smith run out 0
C.H. Gayle not out 133
R.R. Sarwan c Rafique b Baisya 40
B.C. Lara c Mashud b Mushfiqur 53
S. Chanderpaul c Mashud b Rafique 7
D.R. Smith c Tareq b Rafique 42
R.D. Jacobs not out 18
EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-8) 10
TOTAL (for five wkts, 99 overs) 303
FALL OF WKTS: 1-2, 2-89, 3-162, 4-183, 5-253.
TO BAT: T.L. Best, P.T. Collins, F.H. Edwards, J.J.C. Lawson.
BOWLING (to-date): Tapash Baisya 21-4-63-1 (1nb); Tareq Aziz 23-3-95-0 (5nb); Mushfiqur Rahman 19-6-50-1; Mohammad Rafique 30-9-81-2 (2nb); Rajin Saleh 6-0-12-0. -Agencies