West Indies secure Day 1 against Bangladesh despite late wickets

The West Indies have scored 250/5 on day one of the first Test against Bangladesh at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Friday.

Mikyle Louis (97) and Alick Athanaze (90) led the charge for the hosts, with the pair both falling just shy of centuries in the final session of the day.

Strong favourites heading into the opening cricket Test, the West Indies began slowly through captain Kraigg Brathwaite (4) and Louis.

Brathwaite fell first, taking 38 balls for his four runs before Taskin Ahmed trapped the opener LBW in the 14th over.

Keacy Carty (0) also fell to Ahmed, returning to the sheds scoreless in the 16th over.

Kavem Hodge (25) then combined for a handy 59-run partnership with Louis, before some sharp fielding led to a run out after lunch.

Hodge’s dismissal sent Athanaze to join Louis, with the two batting through from the 38th over to the 75th and putting on 140 runs in flat batting conditions.

Just when it seemed the hosts would arrive at stumps in a commanding position, both Louis and Athanaze gave away their wickets with soft dismissals.

First Louis went after a short ball from Mehidy Hasan Miraz, charging down the pitch to hit a maximum but edging through to slips instead, three runs short of his maiden Test century.

Just overs later, Athanaze went after a slower length delivery, attempting a paddle shot but spooning the ball through to Litton Das.

Middle order batsmen Justin Greaves and Joshua Da Silva then managed to stem the bleeding and put on 22 runs between them to take the home side through to stumps.

Heading into the second day, the West Indies are still heavy favourites to win the Test, with the top sportsbooks paying -277.78 for a home victory, compared to +350 for Bangladesh.

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