West Indies vs. Bangladesh, 1st Test: Day 1 Highlights, Scorecard, Report

West Indies made a superb start to the first day of the first Test against Bangladesh in St. Vincent as they posted 264-3.

Kraigg Brathwaite was the star of the show with 123 not out, as the visitors’ bowling attack was successfully kept at bay for much of the day.

The West Indians replaced Jason Holder with Shannon Gabriel, while they selected Jermaine Blackwood as an extra batsman instead of Shane Shillingford.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh gave Taijul Islam and Shuvagata Hom debuts in this game, with captain Mushfiqur Rahim then winning the toss and electing to bowl first.

The visitors felt there was something on offer early in the pitch, but West Indies openers Chris Gayle and Brathwaite immediately looked untroubled.

Gayle was his usual aggressive self as he plundered boundaries off a bowling attack that offered very little on a wicket that turned out to have very few demons.

Neither took any great chances and brought up their half-century partnership for no loss in good time, having forced Bangladesh to introduce their spinners early on.

The away side created a half-chance as Gayle was almost run out by Al-Amin Hossain in the 18th over, but he was shown to have made his ground.

Gayle would then push on and reach his fifty with an enormous six of debutant Islam, but he would then be dropped by Rubel Hossain who failed to take a return catch.

Meanwhile, Brathwaite was happy to play a supporting role, and he did not hit many boundaries but continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

At lunch, West Indies were 103-0, with Gayle unbeaten on 61 and Brathwaite alongside him having scored 40 not out at the interval.

Unfortunately for the hosts, Gayle would depart for the addition of just three runs to his total as Hom caught him leg before wicket (lbw), although Brathwaite would bring up his own half-century.

Kirk Edwards arrived at the crease at No. 3, but his poor run continued as he was caught by Mominul Haque of debutant Islam for just 10.

West Indies 1st Innings
Total	264-3	87 overs
Batsman	Dismissal	Bowler	Runs	Mins	Balls
C. Gayle	lbw	b Hom	64	142	105
K. Brathwaite	Not Out		123	324	269
K. Edwards	c Haque	b Islam	10	12	14
D. Bravo	c Mahmudullah	b Islam	62	154	126
S. Chanderpaul	Not Out		1	9	9
Extras	1nb 1b 2lb	4
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
A. Hossain	14	7	30	0
R. Hossain	16	0	55	0
Mahmudullah	5	0	31	0
S. Hom	27	4	76	1
T. Islam	25	6	69	2

That brought Darren Bravo to the wicket, and alongside Brathwaite the pair looked to stop their side’s slide against a reinvigorated bowling attack.

Brathwaite in particular looked very impressive, especially off the back foot, and the pair pushed the West Indian total past 150 with no further alarms.

Bravo hit just one boundary—a big six off Islam—and otherwise was watchful as he looked to blunt the visitors’ spin attack.

Tea came with the total on 182-2, led by Brathwaite on 89 not out, while Bravo was unbeaten on 17 against bowlers who had made positive moves but could not break through again.

Their steady progress continued in the evening session, as the pair continued to look solid in spite of their relatively sedate run rate that hovered around three runs per over.

West Indies went past 200 in the 65th over for no further losses, then shortly after Brathwaite brought up another century, his second of 2014 in what has been a very impressive year.

The opener continued his progress alongside Bravo, with the pair content to maintain their relatively slow run rate as the evening session wore on.

Hom was managing to find some turn and bounce, even on Day 1, and he saw Brathwaite dropped by Rahim on 113 after he had brought up the century partnership alongside Bravo.

Just after the drinks break, Bravo would bring up his fifty from 103 balls, and without further losses West Indies moved past 250 in the final 10 overs of the day.

Their stand would be ended in the 85th over of the day, as after hitting two straight boundaries, Bravo was caught at mid-off by Mahmudullah off Islam for 62.

However, Shivnarine Chanderpaul would come to the crease and help Brathwaite see off the rest of the day, which was curtailed slightly by a downpour that brought things to a close.

West Indies finished the day on 264-3, with Brathwaite unbeaten on 123 having blunted Bangladesh’s bowling attack superbly.

For the visitors, it was a disappointing day having won the toss and chosen to bowl, and with wickets in hand for tomorrow, the West Indians will be hopeful of building a large total.