Benn stars as Windies take huge lead against Bangladesh

Kingstown (St. Vincent), Sep 8 (IANS/CMC) Sulieman Benn’s fifth Test five-wicket haul crippled Bangladesh as the West Indies took a massive 302-run lead on the third day of the opening Test at Arnos Vale here.

The six-feet, eight-inch left-arm spinner claimed five for 39 as Bangladesh were shot out for a paltry 182 in response to the West Indies first innings of 484 for seven declared Sunday, reports CMC.

He was supported by part-time off-spinner Jermaine Blackwood who finished with two for 14, playing in only his second Test.

Left-hander Mominul Haque top scored with 51, captain Mushfiqur Rahim propped up the lower order with an unbeaten 48 while opener Shamsur Rahman chipped in with 35.

Earlier, veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul was left stranded 15 runs short of his 30th Test century as the West Indies declared their innings half-way through the first session.

Chanderpaul, resuming on 51, was left unbeaten on 85 as the West Indies, resuming on 407 for three, went for quick runs with the declaration in mind.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite, not out on 205 overnight, finally ended his marathon innings on 212, when he was caught square on the onside by Mominul off debutant left-arm spinner Taijul Islam who finished with five for 135.

Following his dismissal, wickets fell steadily as the hosts went for quick runs. Blackwood missed a heave at seamer Rubel Hossain and was lbw for ten with the score on 451 for five and captain Denesh Ramdin holed out to mid-wicket for five off Taijul, 18 balls later with just 15 runs added.

Jerome Taylor got off the mark with a sweetly-timed straight six off off-spinner Shuvagata Hom and followed up with a boundary to mid-wicket in the next over off Taijul before holing out to long on for ten.

Chanderpaul, meanwhile, tried to increase his scoring rate but with his innings gathering no significant pace, he found himself stranded with the innings declaration.