This is a Test match that pivoted on a single session. The West Indies conceded a modest 27-run first-innings deficit — manageable, not comfortable — and then watched their captain Roston Chase and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican tear through Bangladesh's top and middle order like it was made of wet paper. At stumps, called early for bad light, Bangladesh were 79-6 and holding a lead of just 106 runs with only their tail and two lower-order batsmen still standing. The damage was systematic. Shamar Joseph struck in the second over to send Tanzid Hasan back for a duck. Chase then removed Shadman Islam — the centurion from the first innings — for 13 and Towhid Hridoy for 2 in the space of three balls before dismissing Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto for 10. Warrican trapped Liton Das lbw for 4 and later bowled Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 9. Bangladesh went from 0-0 to 53-6 with barely a whimper of resistance. The morning session had belonged to Bangladesh. Nayeem Hasan returned figures of 4-33 with his off-spin to bowl West Indies out for 245, with Tagenarine Chanderpaul the last meaningful resistance. Chanderpaul's 56 off 184 balls was stubbornness personified — his third half-century, built from grinding patience and six fours — but once he edged Shoriful Islam to second slip, the innings folded. Justin Greaves made 46 and Chase was left stranded on 43 as Nayeem cleaned up the tail. The subplot worth tracking is Jaker Ali, who entered the match as a concussion substitute for Mominul Haque after Mominul took a blow to the head while fielding at short leg. Jaker and Nayeem were both on 18 not out at stumps, an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership that represents Bangladesh's last realistic chance to set a competitive target. Batting coach Floyd Reifer's confidence was telling: "Whatever score they give us tomorrow, we are going to chase it down." That is not bravado from a side that just watched its spinners dismantle a home lineup on a turning Mirpur pitch. The West Indies have the bowling to finish this. The question is whether Bangladesh's remaining batsmen can push the target past the point where pitch demons make any chase uncomfortable. Nayeem's assessment was more measured: even 200 would be "a very good total." He is probably right. On a surface increasingly favoring spin, anything above 180-200 turns a fourth-innings chase into a genuine contest. Below that, the West Indies are heavy favorites to close this out on day four.
