Hasan, Islam strikes half centuries; Bangla post 253-3 at lunch

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Shakib Al Hasan and Naeem Islam struck half centuries to take the home team to 252-3 at lunch, within sight of the follow-on target on day three of the Dhaka Test today against the West Indies.

Resuming at 164-3, Bangladesh were in a spot of bother but Shakib (65 not out) and Islam (62 not out) ensured the home team did not lose any wicket in the first session, adding 133 for the unbroken fourth wicket stand.

Bangladesh need another 76 to avoid the follow-on, in reply to the West Indies mammoth first innings score of 527-4 declared.

It was the highest fourth wicket stand for Bangladesh, bettering the 120 runs between Habibul Bashar and Manjural Islam against the West Indies at Kingston in 2004.

West Indian captain Darren Sammy opened the bowling with paceman Ravi Rampaul and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul but both failed to have any impact on a lifeless Shere Bangla stadium pitch in Dhaka.

Shakib was the first to complete his half-century, hitting his sixth boundary and then took two towards point to complete his tenth fifty in Tests and continued to bat solidly.

Islam, playing in only his seventh Test, reached his second half century with the first of two boundaries off Sammy and was well advised by Shakib, the senior partner.

Mystery spinner Sunil Narine also failed to make any impact as Bangladeshi batsmen continued to thrive.