Justin Greaves’ maiden Test century stole the spotlight as the West Indies dominated Bangladesh on the second day of the ongoing Test at Antigua. Greaves’ patient 115, alongside a determined 47 from Kemar Roach and contributions from Alick Athanaze and Mikyle Louis on day one, guided the home side to a commanding 450 for 9. A late burst from the West Indian seamers left Bangladesh reeling at 40 for 2, still trailing by 410 runs with eight wickets in hand.
Greaves, who has been in exceptional form following his three consecutive centuries in the Super50, provided the backbone for West Indies’ recovery after a middle-order collapse had left them at 261 for 7. His unbroken 206-ball knock was a masterclass in patience and resilience, with just four boundaries. Greaves’ stand with Roach was particularly invaluable, with the pair adding 140 runs for the eighth wicket, despite the Bangladesh bowlers’ best efforts.
Kemar Roach, playing his 15th year in international cricket, also played a vital role, grinding out 47 runs from over four hours of batting. Their partnership was the third-highest eighth-wicket stand for the West Indies against Bangladesh, a display of grit and determination that helped the hosts recover from a precarious position.
Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to contain the West Indies’ tail, with Hasan Mahmud the standout performer. He claimed three wickets on the day, including the key dismissals of Joshua Da Silva and Alzarri Joseph, but the Bangladesh attack toiled in vain as the West Indies reached a commanding total.
After a rain delay, the West Indies declared their innings at 450 for 9, giving their seamers a brief window to take control of the match. In the final session, the four-man West Indian pace attack came to the fore, removing both Bangladesh openers within the first few overs. Zakir Hasan fell for 15 after a delivery from Jayden Seales clipped his stumps, while Mahmudul Hasan Joy was dismissed for 5, edging a delivery from Alzarri Joseph to the keeper.
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The visitors had started the day on a promising note, removing Da Silva and Joseph early in the morning session, but their optimism was quickly tempered as Greaves and Roach dug in. Roach’s 47 was the highest score for a West Indies lower-order batsman in the match, as the duo ensured that Bangladesh could not capitalize on their early breakthroughs.
Greaves’ milestone was particularly significant as it marked his first Test century, and it came after a close call when he survived a caught-behind chance on 77, with neither Taskin Ahmed nor wicketkeeper Jaker Ali hearing a faint edge. This moment, however, was not enough to break his concentration as he soon brought up his century with a crisp cover drive off Taijul Islam, arguably the shot of his innings.
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With the declaration in the 145th over, the West Indies gave their seamers ample time to press home the advantage, and they did so effectively, leaving Bangladesh with a mountain to climb. At the close of play, Bangladesh’s top order was in tatters, and they have a long road ahead to avoid a heavy defeat.
The third day promises to be crucial for the visitors, who must dig deep to fend off a persistent West Indian attack if they are to stay in the contest.
