Top-order batting remained a concern, but Jaker Ali and Mahidul Islam showed some resistance in the first innings of the only warm-up match for Bangladesh against the West Indies select XI at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua on Sunday.聽
Before declaring the innings, Bangladesh scored 253 in 73.2 overs, with Liton Das, Jaker, and Mahidul retiring.聽
Hasan Mahmud then removed Kraigg Brathwaite鈥攖he select XI and West Indies captain鈥攆or naught to close out the proceedings on the opening day.聽
This is the only practice match for Bangladesh before the first Test, which starts at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Friday.
Bangladesh sent Mahmudul Hasan and Zakir Hasan to open the batting after winning the toss, with Shadman Islam sitting out.
Both openers spent some time in the middle but were back in the hut inside 10 overs.聽
Mahmudul scored eight, while Zakir made 15. Shahadat Hossain, who was brought into the squad as a replacement of the captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, was bowled after making 25 off 30.聽
Mominul Haque faced 58 balls to score 31 runs but threw his wicket away, which left Bangladesh to 101-4.聽
Jaker and Mahidul, two other wicketkeeper-batters in the squad, though, showed a glimpse of hope. They batted for 27 overs to build an 81-run partnership for the sixth wicket.聽
Jaker, who made his Test debut against South Africa in the first Test at Mirpur, scored 48 off 110.聽
Mahidul, the other debutant in the South Africa series, made 41 off 87.聽
But it鈥檚 not new for Bangladesh to be rescued by the batters from the lower order in the recent past.聽
In the Caribbean, the upper-order will face a greater task against the Duke ball. They must step up when the first Test begins in Antigua.
