Both editors extended their stand to 138 in a first session without a wicket
Lon West Indies 259 and 197 for 3 (Mayers 91 *, Bonner 43 *, Miraz 3-82) 198 need another run to case Bangladesh 430 and 223 for December 8 (Haque 115, Das 69, Warrican 3-57, Cornwall 3-81)
Kyle Mayers and Nkrumah Bonner, the two debaters, kept the West Indies’ hopes of removing a miracle alive on the fifth morning of the first Test.
Starting the day at 110 for 3, Mayers and Bonner extended their stand to 138 and sided to 197 for 3 at lunchtime, 198 short on target. Meanwhile, Mayers was nine short on his 100-maiden test, while Bonner kept him company at 43.
They both showed exceptional temperance and had confidence in their different playing plans. Mayers continued in the offensive series, hitting 11 four times and six to strike 59.47. Bonner blocked the archers with his defense, advancing at a more patient strike rate of 29.45. The comparisons were already being made to the beats of Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant in India’s win against Australia in Brisbane last month.
Bangladesh spinners, on the other hand, were guilty of not bowling full-time deliveries. That allowed Bonner and Mayers to wait on the back leg and adjust to whatever foot and pitch kick was offered. And if any width was provided, the two did not hesitate to submit the cut-out drawing.
But it was not as if Bangladesh was creating any opportunities. In the first hour of the day alone there were at least three chances that should be converted to wickets. Mayers were 47 when Taijul Islam got a man to go straight around the wicket to hit the bat on the pads. There was a big claim for lbw but Richard Illingworth thought it was not out. Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque did not choose the study but retrospectives showed Mayers would have been out if they had done so.
Shortly afterwards, Mehidy caused Hasan Miraz an edge off the Mayers bat but this time Najmul Hossain Shanto put him down at the first slip. The resulting single took Mayers to a fifty-something test.
Bangladesh missed another chance to decide to turn the field back when Nayeem Hasan found one to turn quickly from the outside and push Bonner’s bats. Illingworth again ruled it in favor of the bat. Replays, again, proved to be wrong.
When Mustafizur Rahman was brought into the attack, Mayers greeted him with a four- and six-in-a-row delivery. Bonner, meanwhile, was happy to keep his head running. But when Hasan fell short, he didn’t bother to turn the offspinner to the end of the square foot twice in one over.
Needless to say, Bangladesh lost control and control of Shakib Al Hasan, who took no part in the Test after walking away with a thigh injury on the second day.
Hemant Brar is sub-editor of ESPNcricinfo