Bangladesh 194 and 40 for 0 (Hannan 12*, Al-Shahriar 21*) trail West Indies 296 (Ganga 63, Baisya 4-72) by 62 runs
Scorecard

Bangladesh enjoyed their best day of Test cricket for two years, as West Indies struggled to live up to expectations after their crushing innings-and-310-run victory in last week's first Test. By the close of the second day at Chittagong, Bangladesh trailed by a mere 62 runs, with all their second-innings wickets still standing. Victory still remains as unlikely as an England comeback in the Ashes, but there seems little doubt that they will avoid their tenth innings defeat in eleven matches.

The hero of the day for Bangladesh was Tapash Baisya, who returned Test-best figures of 4 for 72 as West Indies were all out for 296. That figure in itself was a landmark achievement for Bangladesh – it was the first time in their 17-match history that they had ever dismissed a side for less than 300.

It might have been even better – West Indies had at one stage been a distinctly shaky 127 for 5, but Daren Ganga and Ridley Jacobs saved face with a 99-run partnership for the sixth wicket. But Al-Shahriar Rokon and Hannan Sarkar made sure of the day's credits, by opening their second innings with an unbeaten 40-run stand.

West Indies had resumed on their overnight 38 for 1, and immediately encountered a tight spell of bowling from Talha Jubair and Manjural Islam. Ramnaresh Sarwan feathered an edge to the wicketkeeper off Manjural after adding just three to his overnight 14 (53 for 2), and Chris Gayle, who never convinced in his 38, shouldered arms to Jubair (74 for 3).

West Indies slumped further when Shivnarine Chanderpaul (16) chased a leg-side delivery from Enamul Hoque (99 for 4), and Jubair grabbed his second of the morning when Marlon Samuels top-edged an attempted pull, which lobbed to Al-Shahriar at second slip (127 for 5). Samuels made 31 from 36 balls, and had been in exquisite touch, stroking some superb drives down the ground, and lofting Hoque for an effortless six in front of the sightscreen.

Bangladesh, who had never taken the first-innings lead in 16 previous attempts, sensed a genuine opportunity. But Jacobs served notice of his intent by smashing the last ball before lunch, from Mohammad Ashraful, over midwicket for six, and he and Ganga began to pull away from a tiring attack. But just as Ganga (63) was really getting into his stride, he aimed a hideous slog at Sanwar Hossain, and Tapash completed an easy catch on the long-on boundary (226 for 6).

Jacobs completed his second consecutive half-century as West Indian captain, and went to tea on 58 not out. But he did not survive much longer, nicking Tapash to the keeper moments after the break (264 for 7). Tapash picked up his third wicket when Darren Powell inside-edged onto his stumps for 1 (278 for 8), and wrapped up the innings with his fourth – Jermaine Lawson – shortly after Vasbert Drakes had been run out by Mohammad Ashraful's direct hit.

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