DHAKA, Nov 24, 2024 (BSS)- Justin Greaves struck his maiden century to put West Indies on the front foot in the first cricket Test against Bangladesh today at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Greaves defied Bangladesh bowlers to remain not out on 115 and helped the hosts declare the first innings at 450-9.

Bangladesh then kept up their trend of losing early wickets and reduced to 40-2 at stumps on Day 2, meaning the visitors are trailing by 410 runs.

Shahadat Hossain Dipu who replaced injured captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was in the crease on 10 with experienced Mominul Haque on 7.

Resuming the day at 250-5, West Indies were able to add 200 runs, vastly thanks to Greaves's resilience.

Bangladesh got off to a magnificent start to the day, with fast bowler Hasan Mahmud who went wicket-less on Day 1, taking two wickets in his first two overs and left the hosts tittering at 261-7.

Those two early dismissals gave Bangladesh a ray of hope to bundle West Indies out below 300 in the first innings but Greaves resisted resolutely, aided by Kemar Roach.

Mahmud struck in just the fifth ball of the day by trapping Joshua Da Silva for 14 and then followed it with the wicket of Alzarri Joseph for 4 in the next over.

But to their dismay, Greaves soaked up the pressure to help the side take the stranglehold again.

Greaves raised his maiden fifty off 88 balls by clipping Mahmud through backward square leg for two but refused to be satisfied.

 
He demonstrated monk-like patience further, knowing that the job was yet not done.

Roach, on the other hand, was cool like cucumber and kept Bangladesh bowlers at bay with his extreme patience.

He, however, edged closer to his maiden fifty in Test format before Hasan Mahmud denied him by rattling his stump to end 140-run partnership between him and Greaves. Mahmud eventually finished with a team-best 3-87.

Roach played 144 balls for his 47, his career-best knock, laced with two boundaries.

Greaves drove Taijul Islam for a boundary through long-off to raise his first Test century from 181 balls.

After his century, West Indies declared the innings and left Bangladesh to survive 20 overs of the day.

Stand-in skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taskin Ahmed grabbed two wickets apiece.

Jayden Seals broke through with the wicket of Zakir Hasan after he made 15 and then Alzarri Joseph claimed the wicket of Mahmudul Hasan Joy (5) to push Bangladesh on the back foot.