Chase's smart call pays off as West Indies win by eight wickets in Mirpur

West Indies beat Bangladesh by eight wickets in the first Test in Mirpur, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series with a day to spare. The visitors recovered from a 27-run first-innings deficit, bowled Bangladesh out for 142 in their second innings, and chased down 170 with eight wickets in hand. The match became a story of reading the pitch correctly and making a late selection call that paid off. West Indies captain Roston Chase said after the match that his side changed their playing eleven at the last minute after noticing that much of the grass had been removed from the Mirpur pitch. Experienced pacer Kemar Roach was left out and left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop was brought in. Chase felt that decision had a significant impact on the game. He said it was surprising to see so much grass removed on the first day and that he had not expected the surface to go so low. Once that happened, West Indies made the late change, leaving out Roach and bringing in Bishop. Chase explained that although the pitch looked green, it seemed dry underneath. Once the grass was shaved off, he thought it would be more suitable for spinners. That was why Bishop was included, and Chase believed the spinner made an impact. In his view, West Indies read the conditions correctly. West Indies' spinners took 16 wickets in the match, compared with Bangladesh's eight. Chase led the spin attack with 5-36 in Bangladesh's second innings, and the visitors' spinners kept pressure on throughout. Bangladesh were dismissed for just 142, leaving West Indies a modest target of 170. Brandon King finished unbeaten on 89, while John Campbell made 49. The pair put together a 112-run opening stand that laid the foundation for the chase. King stayed until the end as West Indies completed the victory comfortably. Chase said he did not think the target of 170 was difficult. He felt the pitch had no serious flaws and was playing consistently, with more bounce than he had expected in Dhaka. He wanted his batters to play with intent and to punish Bangladesh's spinners if they dropped short or lost their line. He also stressed that West Indies did not want to let the spinners settle into a rhythm, because once they began landing the ball consistently, their confidence would grow. Bangladesh had been ahead after the first innings, but their second-innings batting collapse changed the match. West Indies' spinners maintained sustained pressure, and the inclusion of Bishop gave the attack a different balance. Leaving out a senior pacer like Roach was a risk, but it proved effective because of the pitch conditions. West Indies travelled to Bangladesh without key players Shai Hope and Alzarri Joseph, but Chase made clear that the goal was to win the series. He said winning a Test anywhere is a great feeling, but his side came to win the series, and this was the start they needed. He added that he does not like to think too much about the big names missing, suggesting that most of the players in the squad are young and trying to prove themselves at this level and build their careers. He said he was confident and happy with the situation. The result puts West Indies 1-0 ahead in the two-match series. Bangladesh now face pressure to respond in the second Test, especially with their batting and spin plans under scrutiny. West Indies, meanwhile, have shown how reading the pitch, making a bold last-minute selection call, and maintaining spin pressure can decide a Test match. Under Chase, the Caribbean side now have a strong chance to push for a series win.