Mikyle Louis and Alick Athanaze both failed just shy of opening Test centuries as West Indies reached 250-5 on the opening day of the first of two Tests against Bangladesh on Friday.
Opening batsman Louis made a patient 97 while Athanaze reached 90 as they shared a 140-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Louis’ runs came off 218 balls with nine fours and a six before falling to a rare rash shot in the post-tea session.
The 24-year-old aimed to complete three figures with a boundary heave off Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
However, he only managed to get the ball into Shahadat Hossain’s hands at the slips as Mehidy celebrated his 50th Test with a key wicket.
When Louis fell, West Indies had reached 224-4.
Four runs later, left-hander Athanaze was also back in the pavilion after making 90 off 130 deliveries with 10 fours and a six.
The 25-year-old Dominican, hailed by West Indian legend Brian Lara as the team’s “most talented” batsman, edged a delivery from slow left-armer Taijul Islam only to be caught by wicketkeeper Litton Das.
Louis and Athanaze gradually rebuilt the West Indies innings after the home side slipped to 84-3 after being put into bat.
Skipper and opener Kraigg Brathwaite bowled four labored deliveries off 38 before being put out of his misery, heavy on fast bowler Taskin Ahmed.
Keacy Carty became Taskin’s second victim when he went for an eight-ball duck, firing a loose shot at Taijul with the score at 25-2.
Kaveem Hodge made 25 before he was the third man out, exhausted following a fine delivery from Taijul at fine leg.
After the departures of Louis and Athanaze, it is up to Joshua Da Silva (14 years old) and Justin Greaves (11 years old) to lead the West Indies to the end.
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