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Mayers puts Windies on top in second Test

Staff WritersAP
Jermaine Blackwood scored 40 as West Indies took control of the second Test against Bangladesh.
Camera IconJermaine Blackwood scored 40 as West Indies took control of the second Test against Bangladesh. Credit: AP

West Indies have taken charge of the second Test against touring Bangladesh, finishing the second day at 5-340, with a 106-run lead.

Allrounder Kyle Mayers led a sometimes shaky Windies batting effort at Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia on Saturday with a chanceless and unbeaten 126 runs.

The winner of the first Test in Antigua in just over three days, the hosts are well on course to sweep the short series.

Captain Kraigg Brathwaite scored 51 and contributed a century opening stand with John Campbell while Mayers stopped a mini-collapse with Jermaine Blackwood, and cruised on with Joshua Da Silva.

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Da Silva was 26 not out after facing 106 balls.

Brathwaite and Campbell,reached 100 together in the first hour, including a seven-ball over by Shoriful Islam.

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But Shoriful ended the partnership when he nicked Campbell's glove and dismissed him for 45.

Brathwaite brought up his 27th Test fifty from 105 balls, but added only one more run before he missed against offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz and was bowled.

In the next over, Khaled Ahmed got Raymon Reifer and Nkrumah Bonner to play on to their stumps.

Three wickets in two overs energised Bangladesh but Mayers and Blackwood conceded nothing else before and after lunch.

Blackwood played an anchor role, and Mayers gradually opened up to reach his fifty off 75 balls.

Their partnership was worth 116 just after tea when Blackwood misread Mehidy and was out leg before on 40 from 121 balls.

Mayers turned cautious again, but even after Bangladesh took the new ball, he switched to fearless when another milestone was in sight.

Mayers was in and out of the 90s in the space of six balls, bringing up his century with a six by pulling Shoriful into the stands over square leg.

His second century in his 13th test came from 150 balls.

By stumps he was on 126 after 180 balls, a large proportion driven through the covers, with more great support from wicketkeeper Da Silva. Their stand was on 92 from 33 overs.

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