November 1: West Indies defeated Bangladesh by eight wickets in the first Test in Mirpur on October 31 to take a 1–0 lead in the two-match series. Brandon King finished unbeaten on 81 after Roston Chase’s five-wicket haul helped restrict Bangladesh’s second innings to 142.
Key highlights
- West Indies successfully chased a target of 170 on the fourth day.
- King made 81 not out, while John Campbell contributed 49.
- Chase took 5/36 in Bangladesh’s second innings.
- The second Test is scheduled to begin in Sylhet on November 5.
File photo: Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, viewed from the south gallery (March 19, 2011). Photo: Souvik.arko / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized by The Press of Asia. Archival venue photograph; it does not show the October 2026 Test. The adaptation is shared under the same licence.
The fourth day’s decisive figures
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Winning margin | Eight wickets |
| Bangladesh second innings | 142 |
| West Indies target | 170 |
| Brandon King | 81 not out |
| John Campbell | 49 |
| Roston Chase | 5/36 |
| Series position | West Indies lead 1–0 |
The ICC’s match report describes a fourth day in which Bangladesh began at 79/6. Jomel Warrican dismissed Jaker Ali early, and Nayeem Hasan’s 52 provided resistance before Chase and Warrican completed the innings. The resulting target was reachable enough for the visitors to put Bangladesh under immediate pressure with the bat.
Why the opening partnership mattered
The ICC account records an opening stand of 112 before Shoriful Islam dismissed Campbell. That partnership changed the nature of the chase: Bangladesh needed a substantial sequence of wickets, while West Indies could absorb a setback without having to rebuild from the beginning.
Campbell’s 49 brought him close to a half-century, but its larger value lay in the start he and King established together. King remained at the crease to finish the job. Tagenarine Chanderpaul also fell, before Kavem Hodge supported King through the closing phase.
The distinction between individual milestones and match control is important here. An opener’s contribution is not measured only by whether he reaches fifty. A strong first partnership can protect the middle order from having to face the hardest part of a small chase under immediate scoreboard pressure.
Chase’s spell and Bangladesh’s resistance
Chase’s 5/36 was his fifth five-wicket haul in Test cricket, according to the ICC. Bangladesh did find resistance through Nayeem, but the innings did not develop into the larger recovery needed to set a more demanding final target.
The sequence shows two separate tests of control. West Indies first had to complete Bangladesh’s innings without letting the lower order add substantially more; they then had to convert that bowling advantage into a completed chase. A favourable position after taking wickets is not a result until the required runs are scored.
Rain interrupted the chase, the ICC reported, but the opening pair continued to attack after the breaks. Interruptions can complicate a fourth-day pursuit, making the early partnership particularly useful. The report supports that description of the match; it does not establish what the weather or surface will be at the next venue.
The World Test Championship context
The fixture forms part of the 2025–27 World Test Championship. The ICC’s account says Bangladesh moved down to fifth in the standings on 47.62 percentage points, with India moving to fourth on 51.52. Those figures describe the standings reported after this match, rather than a prediction of the final table.
A single Test changes both a bilateral series and the wider championship picture, but those are different competitions to follow. West Indies’ 1–0 lead settles the immediate series position; the championship table depends on results across other teams as well.
What comes next in Sylhet
The second Test begins on November 5, according to the ICC. Bangladesh will need to win to level the two-match series. West Indies have an opportunity to protect their lead or extend it.
Team announcements, confirmed player availability and the next match’s conditions will be the relevant updates. The Mirpur result should not be used to infer an unannounced XI or a medical conclusion about any player. This report concerns the completed first Test.
Sources
The Sports Desk covers cricket, the Asian Games and Indian and international sport. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
