ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — The West Indies remained firmly in control of the first Test after day three, with Bangladesh, reaching 269 for 9 at stumps, still trailing by 181 runs at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium here Sunday.

Bangladesh had hoped to build steadily on a slow pitch but, as in the first innings, failed to produce a major individual contribution. Jaker Ali and Mominul Haque both got fifties but neither could carry on, while Litton Das fell for 40. The seventh-wicket pair of Ali and Taijul Islam put together 68 crucial runs, helping Bangladesh cross the follow-on target of 251 late in the day.

Resuming on 40 for 2, the morning began quietly for Bangladesh, with Mominul cracking a pair of boundaries off Shamar Joseph to get things going for the visitors. However, shortly after, West Indies struck as Kemar Roach removed Shahadat Hossain for 18.

Mominul and Litton Das dug in through the first session and went to lunch at 105 for three. But, the home side would get the breakthrough soon after the interval when Jayden Seales trapped Mominul lbw for a dogged 50.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz was tested with a barrage of bouncers from the West Indies attack, with Alzarri Joseph even hitting him on the shoulder. Seales and Shamar Joseph joined in, and although Mehidy managed a couple of boundaries, the pressure mounted.

After facing 67 balls he finally fell to a bouncer from Alzarri Joseph, which he popped up to Mikyle Louis at short leg for 23.

Litton, who had looked steady, fell soon after, bowled by a short delivery from Shamar Joseph that he dragged onto his stumps for 40. His departure, along with that of Mehidy, left Bangladesh in deep trouble with the tail exposed.

Enter the unlikely pairing of Jaker Ali and Taijul Islam who staged a spirited fightback, adding 68 runs for the seventh wicket.

But just as it seemed they might take Bangladesh to safer ground, Joseph removed Taijul for 15, and then Seales caught Jaker in the deep off Justin Greaves for 50.

There was a brief exchange of words between Joseph and Taskin Ahmed after Joseph had hit the Bangladeshi tail-ender on the head with a bouncer. However, despite the tension, Joseph couldn’t complete the job as the light faded, and Bangladesh held on for the day.

Taskin will resume the penultimate day on 11 and Shoriful Islam on 5, as Alzarri Joseph has so far taken three wickets for 69 runs with Seales bagging 2 for 42.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES

Kraigg Brathwaite (c) lbw b Ahmed 4

Mikyle Louis c Hossain b Miraz 97

Keacy Carty c Taijul Islam b Ahmed 0

Kavem Hodge run out 25

Alick Athanaze c+Das b Taijul Islam 90

Justin Greaves not out 115

Joshua DaSilva lbw b Hasan Mahmud 14

Alzarri Joseph c Zakir Hasan b Hasan Mahmud 4

Kemar Roach b Hasan Mahmud 47

Jayden Seales c Hasan Mahmud b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 18

Shamar Joseph not out 11

Extras (b7, lb17, nb1) 25

TOTAL (nine wickets; 144.1overs) 450

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-25, 3-84, 4-224, 5-228, 6-253, 7-261, 8-401, 9-438

Bowling: Mahmud 27-3-87-3, S Islam 18-4-53-0, Ahmed 26-3-76-2, T Islam 38-7-111-1, Miraz 35.1-5-99-2.

BANGLADESH

Mahmudul Hasan Joy c Athanaze b Alzarri Joseph 5

Zakir Hasan b Seales 15

Mominul Haque lbw Seales 50

Shahadat Hossain c Hodge b Roach 18

Litton Das+ b S Joseph 40

Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c) c Louis b A Joseph 23

Jaker Ali c Seales b Greaves 53

Taijul Islam b A Joseph 25

Hasan Mahmud c Athanaze b Greaves 8

Taskin Ahmed not out 11

Shoriful Islam not out 5

Extras (b1, lb8, nb6, w1) 16

TOTAL (nine wickets; 98 overs) 269

Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-21, 3-66, 4-128, 5-145, 6-166, 7-234, 8-246, 9-257.

Bowling: Roach 15-4-30-1, Seales 17-7-42-2, A. Joseph 25-7-69-3, S. Joseph 17-3-55-1, Hodge 8-0-21-0, Athanaze 5-0-9-0, Greaves 11-0-34-2.

Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena, Nitin Menon.

TV umpire: Asif Yaqoob.

Reserve umpire: Deighton Butler.

Match referee: Jeff Crowe