Shadman Islam's unbeaten 96 holds Bangladesh together on day one in Mirpur

Shadman Islam was four runs short of a hundred as Bangladesh reached 207 for 3 on the opening day of the first Test against West Indies in Mirpur

Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and chose to bat at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday, and by the 70th over of the first day Bangladesh had moved to 207 for 3, with Shadman unbeaten on 96 from 208 balls.

Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican claimed two of the three wickets to fall, having removed Mominul Haque before lunch and the Bangladesh captain shortly after it.

The match is the first of two and the last assignment of West Indies' 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, with the second Test to follow in Sylhet from 5 November.

Seales strikes in the seventh over

Bangladesh lost Tanzid Hasan for 7 from 23 balls in the seventh over, the opener pushing at a ball outside off from Jayden Seales and edging a check drive to Justin Greaves at second slip.

That left the innings at 9 for 1 and handed Shadman the job he held for the rest of the day.

He and Mominul Haque rebuilt with a stand of 59 for the second wicket, taking Bangladesh through the first hour without further loss.

Warrican removes Mominul and Shanto

Mominul fell in the 22nd over for 28 from 51 balls, chipping a tossed-up delivery from Warrican to Shamar Joseph at mid-off with the total on 68.

Bangladesh went to lunch on 96 for 2 from 29 overs, Shadman 42 not out from 80 balls with five boundaries and Shanto on 15.

The captain added four runs after the interval before Warrican struck again, pinning him lbw for 19 in the 36th over. The on-field decision was not out, and West Indies captain Roston Chase reviewed it; ball-tracking showed the delivery hitting middle and leg, and Bangladesh were 110 for 3.

Shadman's long watch

Shadman reached his fifty from 95 balls with five fours, and had ten boundaries by the time he moved into the nineties.

With Towhid Hridoy he added 67 from 144 balls for the fourth wicket, a partnership that carried Bangladesh to tea on 177 for 3 with Hridoy on 36.

West Indies kept the rate down without finding a way through. Joshua Bishop sent down 18 overs for 50 runs without a wicket, while Warrican's 12 overs cost 31.

The surface was already taking turn on the first day, with the occasional ball gripping sharply, which both sides had expected of a Mirpur pitch.

Mushfiqur Rahim misses out

Bangladesh were without Mushfiqur Rahim, who hurt his right index finger during training on Tuesday. X-rays showed no serious damage and he had been considered available, but he was left out of the eleven and is expected to return for the Sylhet Test.

Hridoy took his place, and Shoriful Islam came in for Ebadot Hossain. Bangladesh picked three spinners alongside two specialist seamers.

It is the second Test in succession that Mushfiqur has missed against this opponent, having also sat out the 2024 series in the Caribbean through injury.

The last stop of the championship cycle

West Indies named Kevin Wickham for a maiden Test call-up in a 15-man squad for the tour, with Keemo Paul replacing Alzarri Joseph for workload management and Shai Hope rested.

"Playing Bangladesh in their own conditions will be challenging, and we're ready for that," head coach Daren Sammy said when the squad was announced.

West Indies finished the 2023-25 championship eighth, and a series win here would lift them towards the middle of the table at the end of the current cycle.

Scorecard: Bangladesh 207 for 3 in 70 overs (Shadman Islam 96 not out, Jomel Warrican 2-31) v West Indies, first Test, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, day one.

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