West Indies vs Bangladesh: Bowlers, Openers Help West Indies Dominate On Day 1 Of 2nd Test

Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell consolidated a dominant position for the West Indies in reaching 67 without loss at stumps after their bowlers dismissed Bangladesh for 234 on the first day of the second and final Test in St Lucia on Friday. A day that started well for the home captain when he won the toss to give his bowlers first use of a sporting pitch ended with Brathwaite unbeaten on 30 and Campbell 32 not out, the pair laying the platform going into day two when they will be seeking to take a step closer to a 2-0 series sweep of their opponents.

Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales led the West Indies bowling effort with three wickets each while debutant Anderson Phillip, who took the first wicket of the match with just his second ball in Test cricket, and the versatile Kyle Mayers claimed two apiece.

That reinforced not just their skipper's decision at the toss but also the selectors' choice in opting for an additional seamer in Phillip at the expense of first Test debutant and spinner Gudakesh Motie.

Given their reputation of vulnerability in these conditions against a concerted fast bowling attack, the visitors were indebted to a counter-attacking 53 from middle-order batter Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal's 46.

It looked very ominous for Bangladesh at the start of play when, with just the third delivery of the match, Kemar Roach forced Tamim to fend off a sharp lifter in an experience reminiscent of what the West Indies endured a year earlier when they were battered, bruised and humiliated by the South African fast bowlers in back-to-back Tests at the venue.

This time the shoe was on the other foot though, even if Roach, poised on 249 Test wickets, went wicketless through the first innings with the supporting bowlers