Bangladesh 556, takes 29-run lead in 1st test

Mahmudullah and NasirHossain smashed aggressive half centuries to help guide Bangladesh to a 29-runfirst-innings lead over the West Indies and its highest ever test total on thefourth day of the series-opening match Friday.

Nasir scored 96 and Mahmudullahhit 62 to lead Bangladesh to 566 all out just before the scheduled lunchinterval after resuming the day at 455-6.

Nasir cleared the rope four timesand stroked six boundaries in a 136-ball innings that helped give the hosts afirst-innings cushion in reply to the West Indies' 527-4 declared.

He was finally out, four short ofhis maiden test hundred, when he chased a slower ball from Timo Best and edgeda low catch to Chris Gayle at slip, making the total 554-9.

The Bangladesh batting ordercontributed throughout the 10-hour innings, with opener Tamim Iqbal scoring 72,Naeem Islam adding 108 and Shakib Al Hasan out for 89.

Ravi Rampaul led the bowlers bytaking 3-118, while Sunil Narine returned 3-148 and skipper Darren Sammy had2-83.

At the lunch interval, the WestIndies were eight without loss from four overs with Chris Gayle unbeaten on 7and Kieran Powell on 1.