Bangladesh faces defeat after Best strikes

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West Indian paceman Tino Best took three wickets in the second session to push Bangladesh towards defeat in the first Test here today.

Set 245 to win, Bangladesh totter at 129-7 at tea as their batsmen floundered against some hostile bowling by the 31-year-old paceman, who dismissed Shahriar Nafees (23), Shakib Al Hasan (two) and Mushfiqur Rahim (16) in quick succession.

At the interval Mohammad Mahmudullah (11) and Sohag Gazi (four) were at the crease, with the home team needing another 116 runs to win while the tourists require three more wickets for a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

Bangladesh, seeking their only second win at home and fourth overall in Test cricket, lost openers Tamim Iqbal (five) and Junaid Siddique (20) in a disappointing start.

But the worst came after lunch when Best caught Nafees off his own bowling -- a miscued pull shot -- and in his next had Bangladesh's best batsman Shakib Al Hasan caught behind.

Rahim looked good initially but Best returned for a second spell to trap the Bangladeshi skipper in front of the wicket to derail Bangladesh to 85-5.

Sixteen runs later, Veerasammy Permaul trapped Naeem Islam after the first innings century maker had made only 26.

Permaul also dismissed Nasir Hossain for 21 just before tea.

Earlier, the home team were put on course for a win by off-spinner Gazi whose 6-74 are the best figures by a Bangladeshi bowler on debut.

Gazi had Darren Sammy in the third over of the day after the tourists resumed at 244-6 to raise hopes of a Bangladeshi win.

He then took two wickets in one over to record his maiden five wicket haul in his debut Test, cleaning up Ravi Rampaul (five) and Best (nought) off successive deliveries.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who hit 203 not out in the West Indian first innings total of 527-4 declared, came out to bat at number eleven because of illness and although he averted a hat-trick he was trapped leg-before by Gazi for just one.

Gazi became only the third Bangladeshi bowler behind Naimur Rahman and Elias Sunny to grab five or more wickets in his debut Test, but his 6-74 is the best among the trio.

The second and final Test will be played in Khulna from November 21.