Tamim reckons 350 competitive total as hosts labour to 255-4

Mushfiqur Rahim is the hero of the day as the wicketkeeper, on his first day as Bangladesh Test captain, anchors the hosts' first innings with an unbeaten 68.

Tamim Iqbal was yesterday optimistic that a score in excess of 300 would be a healthy total against West Indies when Bangladesh return to the crease today.

Tamim, the Bangladesh opener, scored an impressive half-century on the first day of the first of two Tests yesterday as the hosts made 255 for four in Chittagong.

The left-hander made 52 and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim, in his first Test as captain, scored an unbeaten 68 as Bangladesh batted steadily after winning the toss on a good pitch.

"We batted well today and will try to bat as long as we can on Saturday. I think a total of 320 or 350 will be very good on this pitch," Tamim said, before adding that it was not an easy outing for him.

Indeed, Tamim batted for more than a session before falling to a loose shot, caught at mid-wicket while attempting to slog-sweep part-time spinner Marlon Samuels. He hit five fours in his 141-ball knock for his ninth half-century in 21 Test matches.

"At the moment, I'm not in my best form but the way I batted today I'm quite satisfied. I hope it will be a good match for us."

Rahim added 79 for the fourth wicket with former captain Shakib Al Hasan (40) to prop up the innings after Tamim and Raqibul Hasan (41) fell in the afternoon session. He has so far hit five fours in his 144-ball knock for his seventh Test half-century.

Batsman Raqibul, returning to the Test side after more than a year out, also fell in the same session, trapped leg-before by seamer Darren Sammy after hitting three fours in his 92-ball knock.

The West Indies struggled for success on a first-day track which had little for seamers and spinners, taking just one wicket in the opening session, two in the second and one in the third.

Samuels bagged two wickets, while pacemen Ravi Rampaul and Sammy took one wicket apiece.