Mirpur pitch surprise, Bishop's impact in last-minute change: West Indies' eight-wicket win

West Indies took a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh after beating the hosts by eight wickets in the opening Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday. The visitors recovered from a 27-run first-innings deficit, bowled Bangladesh out for 142 in the second innings and chased down 170 with eight wickets in hand and a day to spare. West Indies' spinners were the decisive force, taking 16 wickets in the match compared to Bangladesh's eight. Captain Roston Chase led from the front with 5-36, while Brandon King remained unbeaten on 89 and John Campbell made 49 in a 112-run opening stand. The match was shaped as much by pitch reading and team selection as by individual performance. Chase revealed after the game that West Indies made a last-minute change to their XI after noticing how much grass had been removed from the Mirpur surface. Left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop was brought in for experienced pacer Kemar Roach, and the move paid off. Chase said: 'It was shocking for us when we came on the actual first day to see that much grass off. I didn't think that it was going to go that low. But then, when that did happen, we actually changed at the last minute, leaving out Roach and bringing in Bishop.' He added: 'I thought that worked in our favour because the wicket, even though it was green, looked dry underneath. So, then, when the green grass got shaven off, I thought it would have been more suitable for the spinners. So, that's why we brought in Bishop, and I thought he made an impact in the game as well. So, I thought that we read it correctly.' The decision gave West Indies extra spin depth and created different angles for Bangladesh's batters, who struggled to build partnerships in the second innings. Chase was also pleased with the way his side approached the chase. He felt the pitch had no serious demons and offered consistent bounce. 'I didn't think the wicket had any devils in it; it was still playing consistently. I thought it had a bit of bounce as well, probably the first time I saw a wicket in Dhaka with so much bounce,' he said. He wanted his batters to play with intent and not allow Bangladesh's spinners to settle. 'Although Bangladesh have some good spinners, I wanted them to go out there and, if the Bangladeshi spinners are offline, try to punish them. Don't let them just settle and bowl and bowl and bowl, because we know when they get into that rhythm and start spotting the ball in front of you, they start to get that confidence and then things start to happen.' King and Campbell followed that plan perfectly. Their 112-run opening partnership took the game away from Bangladesh and ensured the target of 170 never became a serious obstacle. King's unbeaten 89 was the anchor of the chase, while Campbell's 49 gave the innings early momentum. Bangladesh's spinners, who had taken eight wickets in the match, could not match the pressure created by West Indies' spinners, especially Chase and Bishop. Chase also stressed that West Indies had travelled to Bangladesh with the ambition of winning the series, despite missing key players Shai Hope and Alzarri Joseph. 'Obviously winning a Test match anywhere in any conditions is a beautiful feeling, but we came here to win the series, so this is the start that we needed,' he said. 'Personally, I don't like to think about the big names missing. I think that's probably only the guys in the press that are studying that. Most of the guys in the team are young and they're still trying to prove themselves at this level and make a career for themselves. I'm just confident and happy with the situation we're in right now.' For Bangladesh, the defeat raises questions about second-innings batting, shot selection and the ability to sustain pressure with the ball. A 27-run first-innings lead was not enough because the second innings folded for 142. West Indies, by contrast, read the conditions quickly, made a brave selection call and executed their plans with the bat. The second Test now becomes a test of Bangladesh's response, while West Indies will look to carry the same momentum and clinch the series.