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In Sylhet, the West Indies mounted a powerful batting response that has essentially put Bangladesh out of contention in the second and final Test of the series. According to the Trinidad Guardian, Kavem Hodge’s brilliant unbeaten 140 anchored the innings as the visitors reached 345 for three, establishing a commanding overall lead of 315 runs.
Resuming from an overnight position of seven without loss, the West Indies needed their batters to perform under pressure. They delivered emphatically, beginning with an 85-run opening stand between Brandon King and Joshua Da Silva that helped erase an initial 30-run deficit. Both openers batted positively from the outset, maintaining a scoring rate above four runs per over and finding the boundary regularly. King brought up a half-century off 62 balls with a cover drive, though he was eventually caught at first slip for 61 after being dropped earlier in his innings.
The momentum shifted decisively during a 165-run partnership between Hodge and Kevin Wickham. Wickham struck aggressively, hitting boundaries off the Bangladesh spinners and reaching his half-century off 68 balls. His achievement made him the eighth West Indian to score more than 50 in both innings on debut, and the first to do so since Sewdatt Shivnarine in 1978. Hodge, meanwhile, brought up his third Test century off 189 balls, striking 17 fours and one six.
Wickham’s innings ended at 78 when he hit a full toss straight back to left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, but the damage was done. First-innings centurion Amir Jangoo added 61 runs with Hodge in an unbroken partnership that tightened the West Indies’ grip on the contest as the teams headed into the final day of play.
The West Indies and Bangladesh are competing in a two-match Test series. The strong batting display in the second Test contrasts with the hosts’ first-innings total of 386, which had given Bangladesh an initial advantage before the West Indies’ first-innings response of 356.
This Test series represents the West Indies cricket team competing at the highest international level. Strong performances by regional players like Hodge, King, and Wickham demonstrate the continued development of Caribbean cricket talent on the global stage.
Sources and attribution
- Trinidad Guardian
- Hodge hits 140 as West Indies build lead over Bangladesh
- Full Scorecard of Bangladesh vs West Indies …
- Hodge's 140 not out puts West Indies in control vs Bangladesh on 4th day of 2nd test
- United News of Bangladesh
- Hodge 140* puts West Indies in command
- Hodge's unbeaten 140 puts WI in command against Bangladesh, as lead swells to 315
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