Mayers’ ton helps West Indies win in Bangladesh

KYLE MAYERS became the first batsman to score a fourth-innings double century on debut as West Indies chased down 395 runs for a stunning three-wicket win against Bangladesh in the first Test on Sunday at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

Mayers struck 20 fours and seven sixes in his 310-ball 210 not out and guiding the West Indies to complete the fifth highest chase in a Test and also the biggest in Asia.

It was also the second highest successful chase for the Caribbean side following their 418, achieved in Antigua in 2003, which remains the highest by any Test side.

The 28-year-old Mayers, who scored 40 runs in the first innings, ended with 250 runs in the match, the second highest for a West Indies batsman on debut.

His 216-run partnership with Nkrumah Bonner (86) for the fourth wicket, West Indies’ highest fourth innings partnership for any wicket since 1984, proved to be the game changer. Bonner was also appearing in his first Test match.

Mayers brought up his century off 177 balls. In doing so, he became just the eighth batsmen to hit a fourth-innings century on debut.

He got to his double hundred off 303 balls, with Joshua Da Silva at the other end. Da Silva made 20, but shared in a crucial 100-run sixth wicket stand with Mayers.

The win by the regional side was against all odds, as the West Indies team was without regular Test players, including captain Jason Holder, along with Darren Bravo, Shamarrh Brooks, Roston Chase, Shai Hope and Shimron Hetymer, who cited fears of the coronavirus in Bangladesh as their reason for opting not to travel there.

Their absence paved the way for Mayers, Bonner and Shayne Moseley, to earn their Test debut.

Summarised scores : Bangladesh – 430 (Mehidy 103, Shakib 68, Shadman 59; Jomel Warrican 4 for 133). West Indies – 259 (Kraigg Brathwaite 76, Jermaine Blackwood 68, Kyle Mayers – 40 ; Mehidy Hasan 4 for 58) Bangladesh – 223 for 8 declared (Mominul Haque 115, Liton Das 69; Jomel Warrican 3 for 57, Rahkeem Cornwall 3 for 81). West Indies – 395 for 7; Kyle Mayers – 210 not out, Nkrumah Bonner – 86. Mehidy Hasan – 4 for 113, Taijul Islam – 2 for 91.

West Indies gathered 60 points on the World Test Championships points table.

The West Indies meet Bangladesh in the second and final Test at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, starting Wednesday night Eastern Caribbean Time.