2nd Dhaka Test …Windies celebrate 500th Test with solid 1st day showing

Sep 14, 2014 Sports

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Late decision to ask for ‘3rd eye’ denies Johnson possible debut ton

By Sean Devers in St Lucia
In Association with Mike’s Pharmacy,
Raj Singh Insurance, Universal Sports Store
Carib Beer and Rex Resorts St Lucia  
The Dhaka Bank second Test and 500th for the West Indies began yesterday in sunny

conditions at the Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia with Bangladesh winning the toss and inviting the hosts to bat first on a track with a tinge of grass in the fourth Test match at this venue.
With 162 wins, 168 losses, 168 draws and the first ever Tie since their first Test against England in 1928, West Indies began a historic game hunting a 2-nil series win and 21-year-old Kraigg Braithwaite and 27 year-old debutant Leon Johnson added 143 for the first wicket before they both fell in the space of two runs.
The openers set the stage for Darren Bravo (44) and 40-year-old veteran Shiv Chanderpaul (34) to put West Indies, who finished the day on 246-3 from 90 overs, in strong position. Kirk Edwards (16) was the other batsman dismissed.
Braithwaite (63) batted for 214 minutes, 150 balls and reached the ropes five times in his sixth half-century, while Johnson (66) batted for 227 minutes, 162 balls and struck five fours.
A late decision by Johnson to call for the ‘third eye’ after he was given LBW to left-arm spinner Taijul (TV replays confirmed the ball was missing leg stump) denied the Guyanese as possible debut century and joining only 13 others to achieve to feat in the 86-year history of West Indies Test cricket after George Headley became the first and youngest to do so against England in Barbados in 1930.
Braithwaite and Johnson, who replaced Chris Gayle in the squad, give the hosts a slow but solid start on a heavy outfield with Johnson scoring his first Test run after facing 14 balls and by Lunch the pair had taken the score to 61-0 from 26 overs.
Johnson, who has batted in the middle order for most of his 50 First-Class matches, was promoted to open although Kirk Edwards was retained in the side.
Johnson pivoted and disdainfully pulled Rubel behind square to go past the subdued Braithwaite as the pair took the score to 35 in the first hour.
Bajan Braithwaite and Johnson originally from Kumauni Creek in the Demerara River, launched into Shafiul and majestically drove him through extra cover for the first boundary off the bat in the innings.
While Johnson grew in confidence as his innings progressed, Braithwaite did not look as fluent as he looked at Arnos Vale where he scored his maiden double century and took the Man-of-the-Match award.
The 50 was posted in 23rd over and Braithwaite celebrated the land mark with his best shot of the morning, a glorious off-drive for four off Shafiul before a flowing on-driven boundary off left-arm spinner Taijul give the right-hander his second four.
After Lunch, the pair continued to play with level heads and picked the gaps nicely against an innocuous bowling attack to build a solid platform with sensible shots on a ground which made free scoring a tedious task.
With colourful little houses dotted into the hills presenting a scenic backdrop, and cotton wool like clouds floating lazily over the Beausejour sward from blue skies, the small weekend crowd watched as the 100 came up in 39 overs with a colossal six by the left-handed Johnson, back over Taijul’s head.
Johnson was the first to his half-century as he got on top of one from Rubiul and steered it past point before Braithwaite reached his sixth fifty with his favorite shot; a cut past gully for four. The Partnership flourished as Braithwaite danced into Taijul and clipped him elegantly through wide mid-on for another four.

Johnson eased forward and sweetly caressed Taijul for four as the West Indies scored slightly quicker in the second session on the large ground.
Braithwaite rocked back and savagely pulled a long hop from Taijul, who had five wickets on debut in the first Test, for four. He then swept him behind square for four more as the body language of the visitors suggested they had run out of ideas to break the stand in sweltering heat.
Just when it seemed Braithwaite was heading for his third Test century he cut Shafiul to Taijul at point to give his wicket away with his favorite shot. Johnson departed three runs later to leave the score on 145-2.
Kirk Edwards got going with a square-driven boundary, while Darren Bravo smashed Taijul back past his ankles like a bullet to get off the mark in enterprising fashion much to the delight of gathering of fans.  Edwards, playing with a loose technique, slashed Shafiul to point and was dropped on five with the score on 153-2 and at Tea West Indies had reached 153-2 with Edwards on five and Bravo on four.
After Tea Bravo chipped into Taijul and clobbered him for two straight sixes before spanking the spinner imperiously to the cover boundary to immediately stamp his authority. Edwards bent on one knee and hammered Rubel for a stunning boundary before he once again gifted his wicket to Mahmudullah, driving to cover at 185-3 after making 16.
Chanderpaul, with most runs and most centuries against Bangladesh, joined Bravo in an unfinished 61-run partnership to put the West Indies in control on a day in which memories of the glory days of West Indies cricket from 1980 to 1995 when they never lost a series and during 1984 when they recorded (a then record) 11 consecutive victories loomed large in the minds of those old enough to have experienced them.
Scores: West Indies 246 for 3 (Johnson 66, Brathwaite 63) v Bangladesh.

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