Bangladesh went from looking like losing by an innings to beating West Indies on a compelling day three of the first test on Saturday. A brilliant rearguard stand by skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Nurul Hasan saved Bangladesh from an innings defeat.
But when they were all out for 245, they left West Indies with only 84 to win with more than two days left at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
The target suddenly looked like 840, though, when Bangladesh medium-pacer Khaled Ahmed took three wickets in 11 balls and reduced West Indies to 9 for 3 in the fourth over of the chase.
Opener John Campbell and Jermaine Blackwood eased the tension by holding out to stumps and leading West Indies to 49 for 3. The team should knock off the remaining 35 runs on Sunday morning in the series opener.
Khaled gave West Indies a good scare. He had captain Kraigg Brathwaite caught down the leg side for 1 from his first delivery, and Raymon Reifer gloving his fifth on 2. Nkrumah Bonner hadn’t scored when his off stump was bowled by Khaled.
Campbell, 28 not out, and Blackwood, 17 not out, combined for 40 to get the home side back on track.
In the morning, West Indies seemed like they were going to wrap up the match by mid-afternoon. Bangladesh were reeling at 109 for 6 in the second innings and still trailing West Indies by 53 runs when Shakib and Nurul came together in the morning.
But showing the patience most of their team-mates didn’t on a good batting track, they rubbed out the first-innings deficit through a wicketless middle session, and pushed Bangladesh 70 runs ahead when they were broken up soon after tea.
