Bangladesh are on course of conceding a big first innings lead as they reached 269-9 on Day 3 of the first cricket Test against West Indies at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua today.
The visitors are now trailing by 181 runs and hopes rested on last wicket pair Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam to reduce West Indies' lead as best as they can.
Taskin was batting on 11 and Shoriful Islam was on 5 at stumps. West Indies earlier declared their first innings at 450-9 after Justin Greaves hit maiden century.
Jaker Ali Anik and Mominul hit half-centuries to deny Bangladesh being bowled out on Day 3, which looked on the cards after they resumed at 40-2.
Jaker who made 58 in his previous Test innings, brought his second straight half-century and made team-best 53, before being dismissed.
Mominul made exact 50, which was his second half-century in last three innings.
Overnight batters Shahadat Hossain Dipu and Mominul demonstrated a huge patience to keep Bangladesh unscathed in the first hour of the morning session when the West Indies pacers moved the ball admirably.
Fast bowler Kemar Roach got the reward of his good bowling throughout the first hour finally when he broke the defense of Shahadat who got an outside edge to be dismissed for 18, adding just eight runs to his overnight total.
Shahadat's dismissal brought an end to the 45-run partnership between him and Mominul.
Mominul later shared 62-run with Liton Das for the fourth wicket which was broken just after he completed his 21st Test half-century off 115 balls, by taking a single off Alzarri Joseph through backward square leg.
Pacer Jayden Seals who returned figures of 2-42 trapped Mominul leg-before and the batter reviewed the decision in vain.
Soon after Liton followed Mominul after scoring 40 as Shamar Joseph rattled his stump with express pace.
Alzarri Joseph, who claimed 3-69, then removed stand-in captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 23.
With Bangladesh reeling at 166-6 and in danger of being all out below 200, Jaker Ali resisted by batting resolutely.
He got ably support in Taijul Islam and added 68-run with him to save Bangladesh from potential follow-on. Alzarri Joseph broke the partnership by dismissing Taijul for 25.
Jaker Ali pulled Shamar Joseph for a boundary to raise his second fifty off 85 balls but he was victimized by a superb catch of Jayden Seals at mid- wicket after trying to smash Justin Greaves out of the park.
Greaves also took the wicket of Hasan Mahmud for 8 to grab 2-34 along with his century as West Indies sniffed a chance to wrap up Bangladesh's innings. But Taskin and Shoriful denied them.
