Kemar Roach struck early blows but West Indies’ fielders let their bowlers down

Mohammad Isam30-Nov-2024

Shadman Islam scored a fifty on the opening day•Athelstan Bellamy

Kemar Roach rocked Bangladesh early but poor catching denied West Indies a few more wickets on the truncated first day of the Kingston Test. Bangladesh finished on 69 for 2 with Shadman Islam and Shahadat Hossain unbeaten on 50 and 12 respectively.The match began at 3pm local time, five hours after the scheduled start, due to the wet outfield at Sabina Park. The delayed start prompted Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz to bat on a sunny day where only 30 overs were possible. The visitors, however, lost two wickets in the first half an hour.Mahmudul Hasan Joy was the first batter dismissed, caught behind for 2, with wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva taking a diving catch. Roach then removed Mominul Haque with a delivery that swung into the left-hander from around the wicket, before leaving and taking the edge. It was Mominul’s fourth duck in the West Indies and Roach’s 50th wicket against Bangladesh.Bangladesh’s batters looked ripe for the picking but the West Indian fielders let their quicks down. Alick Athanaze dropped Shadman on 15 when he drove in front of first slip but couldn’t hold on. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite also dropped Shadman on 35 at cover.Then came the comical drop when Jayden Seales drew Shahadat’s edge with the batter on 8. The ball burst out of Athanaze’s grip and went towards Kavem Hodge at first slip, who spilled the rebound, which then fell out of Athanaze’s reach as he tried to collect to the ball.The slow outfield after the rain hampered the run scoring as well. Shadman struck three fours and a six in his 100-ball stay. Shahadat edged one four. Many of their forceful shots pulled up short of the boundary. Bangladesh, however, will take heart from the way they bated after a poor start.