Bangladesh consolidate position in Kingston Test

KINGSTON: Tamim Iqbal''s maiden Test century helped Bangladesh build a challenging target for the West Indies on day four of the first Test in St Vincent.

Iqbal fell for 128 as a late collapse threatened the Bangladesh charge, but they finished the day on 321-5 - a lead of 252 over a second-string Windies XI.

Amid the wrangle the Windies have been able to field a side for the first Test against Bangladesh which has the potential to reach a tight climax on day five.

Iqbal, 20, struck 17 boundaries in his stand of 128 while fellow left-hander Junaid Siddique notched a career-best 78 and shared a second wicket stand of 146 to defy the home team.

Medium pacer Darren Sammy (2-53) brought his team back in the final session before an unbroken stand of 54 between Shakib-al-Hasan (26 not out) and Mushfiqur Rahim (28 not out) steadied Bangladesh going into the final day.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play two Tests, three one-day internationals, and a Twenty20 international on their five-week tour of the Caribbean.