Agency :
Veteran pacer Kemar Roach brought up his 250th Test wicket in style as West Indies continued to dominate Bangladesh in the second Test.
Kemar Roach failed to take a wicket during Bangladesh’s first innings, but the West Indies pacer wasn’t going to make the same mistake a second time as he tore through the visitors’ top-order late on the third day of the second Test to bring up his 250th Test wicket in style.
Tamim Iqbal was the victim as West Indies’ stranglehold on the match was further strengthened, as Roach went past former quick Michael Holding (249 wickets) and joined a group of Caribbean greats that have notched more than 250 Test wickets.
Courtney Walsh heads the list with 519 Test scalps, but Roach is heading towards Curtly Ambrose (405), Malcolm Marshall (376), Lance Gibbs (309) and Joel Garner (259).
Roach will surely surpass Garner’s mark very soon, and who knows how far the 33-year-old can go from that point on.
Michael Holding was quick to send his well-wishes to Roach after stumps on day three, with the West Indies great showering the right-armer in praise following his milestone.
Holding made special note of Roach’s longevity and said there is no reason why the 33-year-old can’t continue on and play for a few more years yet.
“I am more impressed in the fact that he has been playing for so long as fast bowlers don’t usually extend their careers as long as he has,” Holding said on a video posted by Cricket West Indies.
“He has been going for 13 years now and has quite a few more years in front of him if he so wishes.”
Roach’s heroics with the ball overshadowed another disappointing day by Bangladesh and surely only a miracle could see them avoiding defeat in this second Test in Saint Lucia.
Najmul Hossain Shanto (42) showed some fight with the bat during the second innings, but he fell late in the day and veteran skipper Shakib Al Hasan (16) was dismissed shortly after to leave the visitors in a world of pain at stumps on day three.
Bangladesh only have four wickets in hand and still trail West Indies by 42 runs, so their first goal must be to ensure they make the hosts bat for a second time.
But with Roach (3/32) and fellow quick Alzarri Joseph (2/31) bowled well, West Indies are sure to try and wrap up proceedings as quickly as possible on the fourth day.
