Tigers avoid follow-on after Mominul, Jaker fifties

Some dogged batting ensured that Bangladesh saved the follow-on before bad light brought a premature end to the third day of the first Test against the West Indies in Antigua on Sunday.

Starting the day on 40-2 in reply to the West Indies' 450 for nine declared, the Bangladesh batters crawled their way to 269 for nine, past the follow-on mark but still trailing by 181 runs.

Kemar Roach removed Shahadat Hossain during the morning for 18 but Mominul Haque dug in with Litton Das to add 62 for the fourth wicket.

Mominul brought up his 50 from 115 balls before falling leg before to the next delivery he faced from Jayden Seales.

Das went on to make 40 before chopping on to Shamar Joseph.

When Mehidy Hasan Miraz (23) fended Alzarri Joseph to short-leg, Bangladesh had slumped to 166 for five, in serious danger of following on.

Jaker Ali and Taijul Islam steadied the ship, adding 68 for the seventh wicket before Jaker, who made a half-century against South Africa in his only other Test in October, reached his second half-century.

Shortly after, he fell for 53 to the medium pace of Justin Greaves whose undefeated 115 was the highlight of the West Indies first innings.

Alzarri Joseph returned to bowl Taijul for 25 and finish the day as West Indies' most successful bowler with 3-69.

Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud took them past the follow-on but Bangladesh will have their work cut out to avoid defeat in this first Test of this two-Test series.

Tigers in trouble after Mominul, Liton fail to cash in 

Bangladesh found themselves in trouble at 165-5 after the end of the second session on Day 3 of the first Test against the West Indies at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua today as two of their set batters – Mominul Haque and Liton Das - failed to capitalise on their solid starts.

The duo put together a flourishing 62-run stand following a period of resistance in the morning session but Mominul's vigil in the middle came to a premature end right after he reached his half-century. 

The left-handed batter, who put away three fours for his 116-ball 50, got trapped lbw when he tried to flick a full-length delivery bowled by Jayden Seales.

Liton could not make it big either as he became pacer Shamar Joseph's first victim after scoring a 76-ball 40. The right-handed batter tried to go for a short-arm jab against a short delivery but got cramped for room and ended up playing it onto the stumps. 

The persistent pressure from the Windies bowlers paid off as they seized the initiative, while the Tigers, behind by 245 runs at Tea, let the opportunity slip on a good wicket.   

Mominul, Liton steady the ship 

After losing Shahadat Hossain Dipu early in the morning, experienced batters Mominul Haque and Liton Das helped Bangladesh take their score past the 100-run mark on Day 3 of their first of two Test against hosts West Indies at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua today.  

At lunch, Bangladesh reached 105 for three after 45 overs, with Mominul unbeaten on 38 off 98 deliveries and Liton scoring 21 off 38 not out. 

Dipu, dismissed by pacer Kemar Roach, was the only one to depart in the first session after the Tigers resumed the day at 40 for the loss of two wickets. 

Dipu departs after morning resistance 

Bangladesh batter Shahadat Hossain Dipu's resistance came to an end as West Indies' lead pacer Kemar Roach nicked off the right-handed batter at the stroke of the opening hour of play on Day 3 of the first Test in Antigua on Sunday. 

Dipu, who started the day on a three-ball 10, managed to play 10 overs while adding eight runs before he edged one to the slip cordon, bringing an end to a 45-run stand for the third wicket with Mominul Haque who was unbeaten on a 61-ball 25 as Bangladesh got reduced to three down for 69 after 33 overs.