DHAKA/CHENNAI: Rahkeem Cornwall took centre stage as spinners picked up all 10 wickets in the West Indies's 17-run victory over Bangladesh in the second and final Test yesterday to complete a series whitewash. Cornwall took 4-105 while Kraigg Brathwaite (3-25) and Jomel Warrican (3-47) grabbed the remaining wickets as Bangladesh were bowled out for 213 on the fourth day.
Mehidy Hasan hit two sixes and three fours late in the day to add drama after the hosts lost their ninth wicket but the West Indies kept their cool to deny them a come-from-behind win. The tourists, missing most of their top stars who feared travelling during the coronavirus pandemic, jumped with joy after Cornwall took a catch at slip off Warrican to dismiss Mehidy for 31 and end the innings.
Set a target of 231 runs, opener Tamim Iqbal hit a quickfire 50 and put on 59 with Soumya Sarkar (13). Brathwaite removed both openers before Cornwall and Warrican put the West Indies in control. Brathwaite broke through off his first delivery as Soumya departed with an edge ricocheting off the gloves of wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva before flying to Cornwall at slip. Tamim raced to a fifty off 43 balls -- including nine fours -- before giving Shayne Moseley a catch at short cover. Warrican claimed Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque (26) and Mushfiqur Rahim (14), while Cornwall got rid of Mohammad Mithun (10) and Liton Das (22).
The West Indies smelled a win once Cornwall dismissed Taijul for nine. Mehidy and Nayeem Hasan defiantly put on 25 for the ninth wicket, reviving home hopes. But Brathwaite removed Nayeem (14) in the final over of scheduled play, forcing an extension. Taijul earlier finished on 4-36 while Nayeem took 3-34 as Bangladesh bowled out the West Indies for 117 in their second innings.
Bangladesh took seven wickets for 76 runs in little over a session on the fourth day after the tourists resumed on 41-3. Cornwall won the man of the match award for his nine wickets while Nkrumah Bonner was named player of the series. The West Indies won the first Test by three wickets.
Ashwin spins out England
In Chennai, India built a commanding lead of 249 after spinner Ravichandran Ashwin helped skittle England for 134 on day two of the second Test yesterday. The hosts were 54 for one at stumps with Rohit Sharma on 25 and Cheteshwar Pujara on seven. India are in sight of a victory that would level the four-match series after their crushing defeat in the opening Test.
Sharma, who hit 161 in India's first innings, survived a stumping chance on 20 when England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes failed to gather the ball to his left off Moeen Ali. Jack Leach trapped Shubman Gill leg before for 14 with his left-arm spin and the opener walked back after an unsuccessful TV review. Ashwin had earlier claimed five wickets as England collapsed in response to India's 329, conceding a lead of 195.
England assistant coach Graham Thorpe said it was one of the most difficult batting pitches he had seen. But Ashwin said batsmen have to adapt on a spinners' pitch like they do on tracks that favor fast bowlers. It was the veteran off-spinner's second successive five-wicket haul and his 29th in 76 Tests. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel and fast bowler Ishant Sharma took two wickets each. England's Foakes made an unbeaten on 42 off 107 balls.
England lost half their side for 52 when Ashwin bowled Ben Stokes for 18. Foakes, taking the place of Jos Buttler who returned home after the opening win, put on 35 with Ollie Pope. The pair batted for over 50 minutes before pace bowler Mohammed Siraj struck with his first ball of the Test, removing Pope for 22. Patel then dismissed Moeen Ali for six.
England had crashed to 39 for four in a dramatic morning session that saw the fall of eight wickets, including skipper Joe Root for six. Ishant Sharma trapped Rory Burns leg before with the third ball of the innings. But it was Patel claiming Root for his maiden Test wicket that raised the roof in the stadium where fans were allowed for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic erupted. Coming into his 101st Test with scores of 228, 186 and 218 in his previous three matches, Root mistimed a sweep and was caught at short fine leg. - AFP