West Indies extend lead beyond 300 against Bangladesh in Sylhet Test

West Indies extended their lead beyond 300 runs on Saturday in the second and final ICC World Test Championship Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement.

The visitors, who won the opening Test, are now within reach of a series sweep, with Bangladesh needing a fightback on the final day.

West Indies began the day 23 runs behind Bangladesh's first-innings total and made a steady start to their second innings.

Openers Brandon King and Joshua Da Silva put on 85 runs, finding the boundary regularly against the Bangladesh bowlers.

King struck 11 boundaries and a six in his 84-ball innings before Mehidy Hasan Miraz had him caught at slip by Najmul Hossain Shanto for 61.

Da Silva scored 36 before Taijul Islam trapped him leg before wicket.

Towhid Hridoy had dropped King on 56, but Bangladesh later found a way through.

Kavem Hodge and Kevin Wickham then combined for the defining partnership of the day, adding 131 runs in the second session without being separated.

Wickham, playing his first Test, became the first West Indies batter in 48 years to score two half-centuries on debut, the ICC said.

Hodge brought up his third Test century, and the pair's stand reached 165 runs before Taijul dismissed Wickham for 78.

Amir Jangoo, who scored a century in the first innings, joined Hodge at the crease, and the lead passed 300 before bad light brought an early end to play.

Taijul was among Bangladesh's most effective bowlers, but the hosts struggled to find regular breakthroughs.

Day 5 in Sylhet will decide the contest, with West Indies aiming to finish the job and Bangladesh hoping to stay in contention for the Ultimate Test at The Oval in 2027.

The World Test Championship runs in two-year cycles, with teams earning points from Test series to qualify for the final.

Test cricket is the longest format of the game, with matches played over as many as five days.