DHAKA: Bangladesh struggled in reply to a huge West Indian total and faced the prospects of following on after Shivnarine Chander­paul hit a brilliant double century in the first Test here yesterday.

The hosts were 164-3 at close on the second day, still needing 164 to avoid follow-on, after West Indies declared their first innings close on a mammoth 527-4 at tea with Chanderpaul equalling his best Test score of 203 not out.

Both Chanderpaul and Denesh Ramdin, who remained unbeaten on 126, piled on the pressure for a clueless home team as they put on 296 for the unbroken fifth wicket stand – a new record in all Bangladesh-West Indies Tests.

When Bangladesh batted, paceman Ravi Rampaul struck as early as in the fifth over when he had Junaid Siddique caught for seven and had Shahriar Nafees (31) caught behind in his seventh.

In between Tamim Iqbal played a fiery 71-ball 72 with the help of ten boundaries and two sixes before he became the third wicket to fall, caught off a miscued drive off paceman Darren Sammy.

Iqbal hit four boundaries off one Tino Best over and then smashed spinner Sunil Narine twice over the boundary, completing his fifty with the first six off just 38 balls.

At close Naeem Islam (27) and Shakib Al Hasan (16) were at the crease on a day dominated by Chanderpaul after the West Indies resumed at 361-4.

The 38-year-old left-hander batted with composure to equal his highest Test score of 203 not out made against South Africa at Georgetown in 2005.

Chanderpaul drove spinner Sohag Gazi towards point for two to complete his double ton. He took his helmet off to acknowledge the cheers from a small crowd and team-mates before bending down to kiss the ground.

In all he batted for 457 minutes, faced 372 balls and hit 22 fours.

Chanderpaul’s stand with Ramdin beat the previous best of 262, incidentally involving him and Ramnaresh Sarwan at Kingston eight years ago.

Ramdin, 52 overnight, looked unperturbed in the company of his illustrious partner, reaching his century with a boundary and a flick for two off spinner Shakib Al Hasan.

He hit 11 boundaries and a six.

Debutant Gazi was the pick of bowlers with 3-145. Paceman Shahdat Hossain took the other wicket.

The second and final Test will be played in Khulna from Nov 21. — AFP

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