Bangladesh ended the opening day of the first Test against the West Indies in a strong position, but one thing dominated the team's thoughts at stumps: Shadman Islam's century.

The left-handed opener remained unbeaten on 99 after facing 219 balls and hitting 10 fours. Bangladesh finished the day on 213 for three after 74 overs, with bad light cutting the day short in Mirpur.

The Whole Team Was Nervous

Bangladesh's acting batting coach Mohammad Salahuddin admitted that the wait for Shadman's hundred had made the entire team nervous.

“We were all nervous at the end of the day. Everyone wanted him to get to his hundred,” Salahuddin said, adding that Shadman has played around 30 Tests but has only two centuries and deserves to have more.

Shadman's innings was built on patience and control. After taking time to settle, he gradually grew into the innings and became the backbone of Bangladesh's batting effort.

He reached his 10th Test half-century and continued batting deep into the final session before bad light denied him the chance to complete his third Test hundred.

Bad Light Leaves Shadman Stranded on 99

Shadman was just one run away from his century when bad light interrupted play.

The players returned after an interruption of around 50 minutes, but only four more overs were possible before the light deteriorated again. The umpires eventually called off play for the day.

It was only the 20th time in Test cricket that a batter had finished a day's play unbeaten on 99. Mushfiqur Rahim was the previous Bangladesh batter to do so, against Ireland in his 100th Test last year.

Interestingly, all 19 previous batters who ended a Test day on 99 not out went on to complete their centuries the following morning.

Can Shadman Follow Mushfiqur's Example?

Mushfiqur's experience gives Bangladesh supporters another reason to be hopeful.

Last year, the veteran batter was stranded on 99 at stumps against Ireland before completing his century the next morning. Fifteen months later, Shadman finds himself in almost exactly the same situation.

Now, Bangladesh will hope the opener can score that elusive single early on Thursday morning.

Salahuddin believes a century could also become an important moment in Shadman's development.

He said the innings could help the opener understand what it takes to convert a good start into a hundred and could benefit him throughout the rest of his career.

Shadman Closing in on His Third Test Century

The 31-year-old currently has two Test centuries.

His first came against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2021, when he scored 120. Four years later, he made an unbeaten 115 against the same opponents in Chattogram.

Now, after 17 innings without a century, Shadman is once again on the verge of reaching three figures.

He also produced the longest Test innings of his career on Wednesday, facing 219 deliveries—his first time crossing the 200-ball mark in a Test innings.

Shadman Holds the Innings Together as Hridoy Retires Hurt

Shadman also shared an important fourth-wicket partnership with Towhid Hridoy. The pair added 88 runs before Hridoy was forced to retire hurt on 42 after suffering cramps in his left leg. He was taken from the field on a stretcher.

Earlier, Tanzid Hasan made seven, Mominul Haque scored 28 and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was dismissed for 19. West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican finished the day with two wickets for 33 runs.

Shadman will resume on 99 not out alongside Litton Das, who finished unbeaten on 10.

For Bangladesh, therefore, the biggest question on the second morning is simple: when will Shadman score the one run he needs for his third Test century?