Jamaica: Bangladesh sealed a historic 101-run victory over the West Indies in Jamaica, clinching their first Test win in the Caribbean in over 15 years. The win, which leveled the two-match series at 1-1, was largely driven by stellar performances from spinner Taijul Islam and fast bowler Nahid Rana.
Taijul Islam was the standout performer, claiming his 15th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. His superb spell of 5/50 on the fourth day at Sabina Park dismantled the West Indies’ second innings, leaving them all out for just 185. This set Bangladesh a target of 287 runs to defend, and they successfully bowled the hosts out, marking their first Test victory in the Caribbean since July 2009.
Nahid Rana, too, played a pivotal role, taking 5/61 in the West Indies' first innings to set the tone for Bangladesh's dominance in the match. Taskin Ahmed, who was named joint Player of the Series, added further strength to the bowling attack, while Jaker Ali’s knock of 91 was crucial in setting the West Indies a daunting target.
The result lifted Bangladesh to eighth place in the World Test Championship standings, while the West Indies, who failed to chase down the target, now face a challenging tour of Pakistan next year to regain their position.
For the West Indies, Kavem Hodge (55) and captain Kraigg Brathwaite (43) showed some fight, but the team’s inability to form any meaningful partnerships in their pursuit proved costly.
Taijul Islam, Player of the Match, expressed his joy, saying, “It’s a great feeling to win a Test match abroad, which we don’t often do, and all the boys really put in a tremendous effort.”
West Indies captain Brathwaite reflected on the loss, stating, “We wanted to be positive and I thought we started well but couldn’t carry it through to the end.”
Bangladesh’s historic win provides a significant boost to their World Test Championship campaign and sets the stage for their future matches in the tournament.
