ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

A MAIDEN Test century from Justin Greaves anchored a dominant second day for the West Indies in Antigua as they piled up 450 for 9 before breaking through to Bangladesh’s batting at the end of day two of the first Test at the Sir Vivian Richards yesterday Stage.

Greaves’ patient 115 that was not there helped lift the hosts from a precarious 261 for 7, and by stumps Bangladesh found themselves a daunting 410 runs behind with eight wickets in hand.

The West Indies’ recovery was built on a brilliant 140-run eighth-wicket partnership between Greaves and Kemar Roach, who fought valiantly for 47, his highest Test score in a distinguished 15-year career.

The morning had started promisingly for Bangladesh as Hasan Mahmud removed overnight batsman Joshua Da Silva with the fifth ball of the day for 14.

In his next over, Mahmud Alzarri had Joseph caught superbly by Zakir Hasan at gully for four. At this point it looked as if Bangladesh had the West Indies in their grasp, but Roach’s stoic resistance and Greaves’ steady accumulation thwarted their efforts.

The two West Indian batsmen ensured that the home side got through lunch without any further damage. In the afternoon, Greaves grew in confidence and pulled Taskin Ahmed through midwicket for his third boundary.

He was fortunate to survive a deficit on 77, with neither Taskin nor stand-in wicketkeeper Jaker Ali hearing the weak nick.

Soon after, Roach and Greaves brought up the first century partnership for the eighth wicket against Bangladesh, followed by a brief rain delay.

Once play resumed, Roach hit Mehidy Hasan Miraz over the head for his first boundary, and although Mahmud eventually removed him with a fine delivery that clipped the top of his stumps, the pair had already done enough to put together a strong total to guarantee.

Greaves, meanwhile, continued to look unflappable and reached his century with a sumptuous cover drive from Taijul Islam. The milestone was his second first-class ton which came off 181 balls.

A well-crafted inning

The Barbadian, who has been in superb form in the Super50 competition where he scored three consecutive centuries earlier this month, demonstrated his adaptability with a disciplined knock.

The 26-year-old faced 206 balls and hit just four boundaries in a well-crafted innings that not only saved the West Indies’ innings but also laid the perfect foundation.

Mahmud was the bowlers’ favorite, claiming three wickets, while seamer Taskin Ahmed snared two scalpels. The spinners, stand-in captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, could manage just three wickets between them from a total of 73.1 overs.

West Indies declared their innings over at the end of the 145th, leaving Bangladesh with 1 hour and 45 minutes to go before the end. There was no respite for the visitors against a harried West Indian pace attack.

Hasan was the first to depart, falling for 15 when he blasted a Jayden Seales delivery onto his stumps.

Shortly afterwards, Mahmudul Hasan Joy fell just five minutes behind Alzarri Joseph as West Indies had Bangladesh at 40 for 2 by the end of the day with a huge 410 still adrift.

Mominul Haque, seven, and Shahadat Hossain, 10, are the batsmen at the crease.