Shadman Islam ended the opening day of the Bangladesh vs West Indies 1st Test unbeaten on 99 in Mirpur on Wednesday, one run short of a century, as Bangladesh closed on 213/3.
The left-hander held the innings together on what the International Cricket Council (ICC) described as a difficult day for batting. The ICC reported that disciplined lines, good seam movement and variable bounce troubled Bangladesh's top order after the hosts elected to bat.
Bangladesh start day two from a strong position, but they also have problems to deal with. Towhid Hridoy, who was batting fluently, was carried off on a stretcher with calf cramps in the final session. Bad light stopped play twice, which left Shadman stranded in the nineties at stumps.
The match is the first of two Tests in the series and counts toward the ICC World Test Championship.
Who took the West Indies wickets on day one in Mirpur?
According to the ICC, West Indies made an encouraging start. Jayden Seales took the first wicket when Tanzid Hasan edged a delivery outside off stump to Justin Greaves at slip and was out for seven.
Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican took the next two. Mominul Haque, on 28, stepped out to Warrican and hit the ball straight to mid-off.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto looked positive before he became Warrican's second victim. He missed a paddle sweep and was out LBW for 19 after a successful review overturned the on-field decision.
The three West Indies wickets on the day were:
- Tanzid Hasan, 7: caught Greaves, bowled Seales
- Mominul Haque, 28: caught at mid-off off Warrican
- Najmul Hossain Shanto, 19: LBW to Warrican, on review
Shadman Islam 99: how he built the innings
Shadman stayed composed under the early pressure, the ICC reported, and found boundaries when the bowlers strayed into his hitting areas. He reached his 10th Test half-century in the 35th over with a single off Seales.
He kept building patiently, punishing loose deliveries while handling the threat from the West Indies attack. At tea, Bangladesh were 177/3 and Shadman was on 79.
He moved into the nineties in the final session before the weather intervened. Bad light halted play for around 50 minutes. The players came back out, but play stopped again after just four overs.
What happened to Towhid Hridoy in the Mirpur Test?
Hridoy joined Shadman after Shanto's dismissal and lifted the scoring rate. He was playing his first Test since his debut in Harare in July and showed positive intent, the ICC said, hitting boundaries as the pair added an unbroken 67 for the fourth wicket by tea. Hridoy was on 36 at the break.
The final session began well for the home side. But Hridoy, batting on 42, was forced to leave the field on a stretcher after suffering calf cramps in the scorching heat, according to the ICC.
The ICC report does not say whether he will be able to return to bat on day two, and no update on his fitness was available in the research.
There is also uncertainty over Litton Das. The Times of India's live commentary reported that Litton was struck on the right elbow by a delivery from Seales and needed extensive treatment from the Bangladesh physio before continuing to bat. The commentary does not make clear whether this happened on day one, and the ICC's day-one report does not mention it. The extent of any injury has not been reported.
Bangladesh vs West Indies Test series 2026: what comes next
Shadman will resume on the brink of a century on day two. The ICC said Bangladesh will be looking to turn a promising start into a substantial first-innings total.
How far they get may depend on Hridoy's fitness and on whether the light holds after two stoppages on the opening day.
The series schedule, as listed by the ICC:
- First Test: 28 October to 1 November, Mirpur
- Second Test: 5 to 9 November, Sylhet
After the first Test in Mirpur, the teams move to Sylhet for the second match, which starts on 5 November.