Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo solid as rock – 2nd Test vs Bangladesh

West Indies 2-241 (Marlon Samuels 109*, Darren Bravo 85*, Rubel Hossain 1-31) trail Bangladesh 387 (Abul Hasan 113, Mahmudullah 76, Fidel Edwards 6-90) by 146 runs.

Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo stopped the invasion of Bangladesh bowlers with a superb unbeaten partnership of 198 after Abul Hasan created a world record.

The Bengal Tigers were bowled out for 387 runs in 91.1 overs not before Abul Hasan became the highest scorer of 113 while batting at No.10 on his debut. He beat the 110 years record of Reggie Duff who smashed 104 runs in his first Test match representing Australia against England on January 1, 1902.

Marlon Samuels - Third Test ton in 2012
Marlon Samuels – Third Test ton in 2012

The Windies were in some sort of trouble after losing their openers at 43 runs when Samuels along with  Bravo put them back in the contention by their dedicated batting and enhancing the score to 241 in 82 overs.

The play for the second day concluded on Thursday, November 22, 2012, at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, Khulna.

Earlier, Bangladesh resumed their first innings at 8-365 scored in 86 overs, Abul Hasan and Mahmudullah were at the crease with 100 and 72 runs respectively. They started off quietly and Abul Hasan was dropped in the slips by Chris Gayle off Darren Sammy at 103 on the first ball of the 89th over. Abul Hasan created a Test record on the second ball by reaching 107 by hitting a four through mid-on and got a standing ovation from the crowd and all players.

Mahmudllah was caught and bowled by Sammy three balls later for 76 off 97 balls with 9 fours. Abul Hasan was finally dismissed for 113 off 123 deliveries with 3 sixes and 14 fours and the first innings of the hosts came to an end on 387 after utilizing 91.1 overs.

Fidel Edwards was the star performer with the ball by grabbing six wickets, Darren Sammy got three and Veerasammy Permaul held one wicket.

West Indies initiated their innings with Chris Gayle and Kieran Powell briskly as the first dispatched 3 fours followed by 1 four from the latter and reached 37 after the first nine overs. Powell was caught by Shakib Al Hasan at deep square leg off Rubel Hossain on the fifth ball of the next over for 13 runs. Gayle became the next victim at 43 when he was caught behind by the wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim off Sohag Gazi for 25 on the fourth delivery of the 13th over.

Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels gathered in the centre and managed just six runs in the next five overs. Samuels opened his arms with a couple of fours in the 19th over and the run rate was kept under check by the home bowlers once again. They crawled to 96 after 35 overs and the first hundred of the innings was displayed on board in the following over with 1 six and 1 four by Samuels. The batsmen adapted defensive approach and never bothered by scoring slow and most importantly secured their wickets. The score was taken to 125 in 46 overs as Samuels got his fifty in the next over with 2 fours.

Marlon Samuels opened up after his half century and Bravo attained his fifty on the last ball of the 58th over with a four. Mushfiqur Rahim used six bowlers to separate the pair but remained unsuccessful as the second hundred of the innings was achieved on the first ball of the 73rd over. The magnificent form of Marlon Samuels continued when he plundered his third ton in 2012, on the last ball of the 80th over with a four. The visitors thrashed 241 runs with eight wickets in hand while consuming 82 overs. Marlon Samuels was batting superbly for 109 off 231 balls with 1 six and 13 fours and Darren Bravo was assisting him well at 85 from 197 comprising 7 fours.

West Indies has responded well in the first innings and with the strong batting line up just to follow, they have a bright chance of taking a vital first innings lead.


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