Hasan Mahmud’s Six-Wicket Masterclass Puts West Indies Under Pressure in Sylhet Test

Hasan Mahmud delivered an impressive performance with the ball as Bangladesh brought West Indies’ first innings to an end at 356 on the second day of the Sylhet Test on Friday. The right-arm fast bowler picked up six wickets, producing one of the finest bowling displays of his Test career and giving the hosts an opportunity to build pressure in the match.

The visitors were dismissed for 356 after batting for 106.3 overs. Hasan finished with figures of 6 for 90, while Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributed two wickets each. His performance was particularly significant as it marked his fifth five-wicket haul in Test cricket and his first such achievement on home soil.

Hasan brought the West Indies innings to a close with the very first delivery of the second session. Shamar Joseph was the final batter to depart after failing to deal with a delivery that moved towards his stumps. The ball, travelling at around 128 kilometres per hour, beat Joseph as he attempted to make room and play towards the leg side. It went on to hit the middle and leg stumps, completing Hasan’s six-wicket achievement.

The dismissal added another memorable moment to Hasan’s growing Test career. He also became the first Bangladesh fast bowler to record a wicket through a stumping in Test cricket. Another remarkable statistic from his performance was that he joined Australia’s Nathan Lyon as the only bowlers to have registered their first five-wicket hauls in five different countries.

Hasan’s influence on the match became increasingly clear during the morning session. Bangladesh had been looking for breakthroughs against a West Indies batting line-up that had already managed to establish a strong position. The fast bowler responded by removing three batters, including two in consecutive deliveries with the second new ball.

One of his most important contributions came when he dismissed Aamir Jangoo, who had been the standout performer for the visitors. Jangoo scored 133 runs and played a major role in taking West Indies towards a competitive total. However, Hasan ended his impressive innings by bowling him.

The Bangladesh pacer followed that breakthrough by removing West Indies captain Roston Chase. The captain was caught behind, giving Bangladesh another valuable wicket at a crucial stage of the innings.

Hasan then came close to completing a hat-trick. Joshua Bishop was struck on the pads, and the Bangladesh players appealed confidently for an lbw decision. However, West Indies successfully reviewed the decision after technology showed that the ball had made contact with the inside edge of Bishop’s bat before hitting his pad. The left-hander survived the delivery, denying Hasan an opportunity to achieve a hat-trick.

That setback did not stop Hasan from making further progress. He eventually removed Bishop to reach his fifth wicket of the innings. His earlier dismissals of Kavem Hodge and Kevin Wickham had also helped Bangladesh maintain pressure on the visiting side.

This was not the first time Hasan had produced a five-wicket performance outside Bangladesh. He had previously achieved the milestone against Afghanistan in October last year. However, taking five or more wickets on home soil gave this particular performance additional importance.

While Hasan dominated the bowling figures, Mehidy Hasan Miraz also played a useful role in breaking the West Indies batting partnership. He dismissed Justin Greaves, who had contributed 51 runs. Greaves had looked comfortable at the crease before Miraz produced a delivery that continued straight and disturbed his off stump.

West Indies added 87 runs during the opening session of the second day but lost four wickets in the process. They reached the lunch interval at 322 for eight, with Hasan already having claimed five wickets. Miraz also thought he had dismissed Shamar Joseph just before the break, but the batter survived after reviewing the lbw decision.

The visitors managed to add a few more runs after the interval before Hasan completed the innings with Joseph’s dismissal. Their total of 356 reflected a strong contribution from the top and middle order, although Bangladesh’s bowlers made sure the innings did not continue much longer.

Jangoo’s 133 was the biggest individual contribution for West Indies. Kevin Wickham scored 61, while Justin Greaves added 51. These three innings provided the foundation for the visitors to reach a respectable total. Joshua Bishop contributed 23, Warrican remained unbeaten on 27, and Joseph finished on 16 not out.

For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed ended with two wickets for 90 runs. Miraz also took two wickets, conceding 82 runs. Hasan’s six-wicket haul, however, remained the defining feature of the innings. Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan went wicketless, conceding 54 and 37 runs respectively.

Bangladesh also faced an injury concern during the day’s play. Opener Shadman Islam hurt his left ankle while attempting to prevent the ball from reaching the boundary. His foot became caught in the grass, causing his ankle to twist awkwardly. The injury left him in considerable discomfort, and the medical staff eventually had to take him off the field on a stretcher.

Shadman’s injury was an unfortunate development for the home side, particularly as Bangladesh prepared to begin their batting innings. His condition could become an important factor in the team’s plans for the remainder of the match.

With West Indies restricted to 356, Bangladesh now have an opportunity to respond with the bat and establish control over the contest. The home side will be hoping their batters can make the most of Hasan’s outstanding contribution and build a strong first-innings total.

Hasan’s performance has once again demonstrated his growing importance to Bangladesh’s pace attack. His ability to deliver breakthroughs with the new and old ball, combined with his consistency in taking wickets, makes him an increasingly valuable member of the Test team. The six-wicket achievement in Sylhet will also stand out as a special milestone, as he recorded his first five-wicket haul in front of the home crowd.

For Bangladesh, the challenge now is to turn that bowling success into a strong batting performance. The first innings may have ended with West Indies scoring 356, but the direction of the match will depend heavily on how effectively the hosts respond.