West Indies have beaten Bangladesh by eight wickets in the first Test in Mirpur, chasing down 170 on the fourth day to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The win capped a strong all-round performance from a side that had trailed after the first innings, and it continued an encouraging run of form for the visitors in red-ball cricket.
Brandon King anchored the chase with an unbeaten 81, sharing a key partnership with Kavem Hodge, who finished 31 not out, as West Indies reached their target in 35.1 overs. The calm finish stood in contrast to the early pressure of the match, when Bangladesh had taken a first-innings lead and West Indies had to fight their way back into the contest.
Key Takeaways
- West Indies chased 170 on the fourth day in Mirpur to win by eight wickets and lead the two-match series 1-0.
- Brandon King finished unbeaten on 81, with Kavem Hodge 31 not out, as the visitors reached the target in 35.1 overs.
- Spinners Jomel Warrican and captain Roston Chase shared nine wickets in Bangladesh’s second innings to set up the chase.
A first innings to recover from
Bangladesh posted 272 in their first innings, thanks largely to opener Shadman Islam’s century. West Indies were bowled out for 245 in reply, leaving them trailing by 27 runs. At that stage, the match was finely balanced, and the visitors needed a decisive bowling performance to stay in control of the game.
That performance came from spin. Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican had already laid the foundation for the victory, claiming five wickets in the first innings before returning with four more in the second. Captain Roston Chase also starred with the ball, taking five wickets in the second innings as Bangladesh were dismissed for 142, setting up a manageable chase for the visitors.
The win capped a strong all-round performance from a side that had trailed after the first innings.
Spin turns the match
The second-innings collapse changed the shape of the Test. Bangladesh, who had looked settled in the first innings, could not build partnerships once Warrican and Chase found rhythm together. Wickets fell regularly, the scoring rate slowed, and the target never grew beyond a total West Indies could chase with patience.
Warrican was named player of the match for his display across both innings. His nine wickets in the match underlined how important control and persistence were on a surface that rewarded bowlers who kept asking questions. Chase’s five wickets in the second innings gave the captain a direct hand in the turnaround, as well as in the leadership of the fightback.
- Bangladesh 272 all out in the first innings, with Shadman Islam scoring a century.
- West Indies 245 all out in reply, trailing by 27 runs after the first innings.
- Bangladesh 142 all out in the second innings, with Warrican taking four wickets and Chase five.
- West Indies reached 170 for two in 35.1 overs, with King unbeaten on 81.
King anchors the chase
A target of 170 in the fourth innings of a Test can still test a batting side, especially after a low-scoring second innings from the opposition. West Indies, however, approached the chase with discipline. King struck an unbeaten 81 and anchored the innings, while Hodge provided steady support at the other end.
The partnership between King and Hodge removed the pressure that can build when early wickets fall in a chase. Instead of forcing the pace, West Indies kept the scoreboard moving and waited for scoring opportunities. By the time the target came into view, the result was no longer in serious doubt, and the visitors completed the win with eight wickets in hand.
Captain Chase praised the fight shown by his side after a difficult start. He said the team had come to Bangladesh with the goal of winning both Test matches to climb the rankings, and he commended the players for the determination they showed after the first innings did not go their way. That message fits the pattern of this match: a slow start, a strong response, and a composed finish.
What the win means for the series
The result continued a positive period for West Indies, who recently pushed India in a one-day series and shared a 2-2 draw in a T20 series against the world champions earlier this month. A Test series lead in Bangladesh adds a different kind of momentum, because winning away from home in the longest format requires patience across four days, not just one strong session.
For Bangladesh, the defeat will be frustrating because the first innings had put them in a promising position. Shadman Islam’s century gave them a total to defend, but the second-innings collapse of 142 left their bowlers with too little to work with. Turning that around in the second Test will require longer batting partnerships and a way to resist the spin pairing that decided this match.
Elsewhere in cricket this week, Glenn Phillips smashed 107 as New Zealand beat India by 87 runs in the fourth T20 international, while Rashid Khan became the first bowler to reach 200 T20 international wickets. The fourth T20 international at Eden Park was another reminder of how quickly the international calendar moves from one format to the next.
What to Watch Next
The second Test begins in Sylhet on Thursday, with West Indies leading the two-match series 1-0. West Indies will look to repeat the spin control and composed chasing that won the match in Mirpur, while Bangladesh will look for a stronger second-innings batting performance after being dismissed for 142. The next match will show whether this win was the start of a series victory for the visitors, or whether Bangladesh can level the series at home.