Mushfiqur Rahim eked out his third Test century but that could only help Bangladesh avoid the innings defeat in the first Test against West Indies in St Vincent on Tuesday.
West Indies romped to a 10-wicket win after Bangladesh set them a target of 13 runs in the second innings on the fifth day morning at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.Mushfiq smashed 116 from 243 balls as Bangladesh, resuming at 256-5, added 58 runs to their overnight score before they were finally all out for 314 runs in the second innings.
Mushfiq, unbeaten on 70 overnight, continued the fight before he was the last batsman dismissed, caught by Darren Bravo off Jerome Taylor at deep midwicket.
The skipper had the last batsman Al-Amin Hossain to thank for helping him in reaching the three-figure mark as he was in danger of running short of partners much like the first innings when he was 48 not out.
Mushfiq was left stranded at 94 when the
ninth wicket fell with Bangladesh still needing 10 runs to avoid the innings defeat.
Al-Amin somehow managed to give Mushfiq the strike, who struck Kemar Roach for a six over the long-off to complete his century.
Mushfiq, who was dropped twice on the fourth day, could call himself lucky as West Indies grassed two catches again, respectively on 71 and 116, with Gayle and Taylor being the culprits.
He was also given a reprieve on 100 when the umpire gave him out leg-before off Roach but the TV replay showed the ball was missing the left stump.
Earlier on the fourth day, Mushfiq shared 130 runs with Mahmudullah (66) to take the game to the fifth day. He resumed the play with Nasir Hossain, hoping to score as much as possible to salvage a draw.
But an out-of-sort Nasir fell for 19 in the sixth over of the morning playing a half-hearted pull-shot off Roach. Mushfiq struck Taylor for three fours in the next over to ease some pressure but Roach returned to hit Shubhagata Hom on his toe for a plumb lbw decision.
Shannon Gabriel dismissed the next two batsmen, Taijul Islam and Rubel Hossain, with his sheer pace in the space of three balls leaving Bangladesh in danger of suffering yet another innings defeat.
West Indies needed less than three overs to complete the win and take a 1-0 lead in the series with Gayle and Kriagg Brathwaite unbeaten on nine and four respectively.
-With New Age input
