Tigers under hammer as WI look to pile on runs

GROS-ISLET, Saint Lucia, Sept 16 (AFP): West Indies declined to enforce the follow-on against Bangladesh and were 12 without loss in their second innings, an overall lead of 231, at lunch on the third day of the second and final Test at the Beausejour Stadium Monday.

Despite having the option of putting the tourists in again after they were dismissed for 161 half-an-hour before the interval, West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin has chosen to bat again.

The opening pair of Kraigg Brathwaite and debutant Leon Johnson will resume in the afternoon session as the home side seek to pile on the runs during the rest of the day to put Bangladesh completely out of the match.

Mahmudullah completed his second consecutive half-century of the series to frustrate the West Indies, who were looking for a swift end to the visitors' innings when they resumed from the overnight position of 104 for seven.

Back in form after a prolonged period without a half-century, the all-rounder completed his fourth fifty in Tests against the West Indies and spearheaded the stubborn resistance in partnership with the lower-order of the Bangladeshi batting.

His eighth-wicket partnership with Shafiul Islam was worth 45 runs before Shafiul was caught behind off Shannon Gabriel after an hour's play.

He added another 20 runs alongside Robiul Islam, but having gotten to 53, fell cutting at spinner Sulieman Benn to give Ramdin his fifth catch of the innings.

Benn had replaced the bowling hero of the previous day, Kemar Roach, who could not add to his haul of five wickets, at the pavilion end and closed off the innings by trapping Robiul leg-before two overs later.

West Indies are seeking a 2-0 sweep of the Test series after a 3-0 whitewash in the preceding One-Day Internationals. The lone T20 fixture in St Kitts was abandoned as a no-result because of rain.

West Indies 380 and 208 for 4 (Chanderpaul 63*, Blackwood 43*) lead Bangladesh 161 (Mahmudullah 53, Roach 5-42) by 427 runs.