Bangladesh show fighting spirit to deny West Indies a series sweep

Bangladesh avoided a series whitewash against West Indies with a determined fight for a draw in the second Test in Sylhet, offering a measure of resistance after losing the opening match in Mirpur.

The visitors had entered the final Test with a 1-0 advantage following their eight-wicket victory in Dhaka. They looked well placed to complete another win in Sylhet after building a substantial lead, but Bangladesh refused to surrender on the final day.

The home side faced a target of 369 and had already lost two wickets when Towhid Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim began rebuilding the innings. Their 135-run partnership frustrated the West Indies attack and gave Bangladesh the platform to survive the remaining overs.

Hridoy scored 82, following his outstanding unbeaten 242 in the first innings, while Mushfiqur contributed 49. Their efforts helped Bangladesh reach 184 for four before bad light ended the contest.

The draw was a welcome result for the hosts, particularly after the pressure of the opening defeat. It also demonstrated that Bangladesh could respond under difficult circumstances rather than allow the visitors to dictate the outcome of both Tests.

However, the series still exposed areas requiring attention. Bangladesh's first-innings batting in Sylhet was initially vulnerable, and the team needed a remarkable individual effort from Hridoy to secure a lead. The visitors also showed greater consistency across the two matches.

West Indies therefore leave Bangladesh with a 1-0 series victory. For the hosts, the final Test provides some encouragement, but turning individual resistance into more consistent team performances remains the bigger challenge.