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Hodge 140* puts West Indies on brink of series sweep
Kavem Hodge struck a career-best unbeaten 140 as West Indies closed day four of the second Test on 345 for 3 in Sylhet, a lead of 315 over Bangladesh with one day left.
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Kavem Hodge struck a career-best unbeaten 140 as West Indies closed day four of the second Test on 345 for 3 in Sylhet, a lead of 315 over Bangladesh with one day left.
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Kavem Hodge struck a career-best unbeaten 140 as West Indies closed day four of the second Test on 345 for 3 in Sylhet, a lead of 315 over Bangladesh with one day left to play.
By StoryTimesNow Sports Desk — 09 November 2026, 9:11 AM IST
West Indies closed day four of the second Test against Bangladesh on 345 for 3 in Sylhet on Sunday, 8 November 2026, with Kavem Hodge unbeaten on 140. (Illustration: StoryTimesNow)
Key Takeaways
What happened: Kavem Hodge hit a career-best unbeaten 140 as West Indies reached 345 for 3 on day four in Sylhet, turning a 23-run deficit into a lead of 315.
Who is affected: Bangladesh must chase at least 316 on the final day, with West Indies already 1-0 up in the series; debutant Kevin Wickham also starred with 78.
What next: The fifth and final day is on Monday, 9 November 2026, when West Indies will decide whether to declare or bat on.
Introduction
West Indies are one day from a series sweep in Bangladesh. Kavem Hodge's unbeaten 140, the best innings of his Test career, carried the visitors to 345 for 3 at stumps on day four in Sylhet on Sunday, 8 November 2026, a lead of 315 runs.
What Happened?
West Indies resumed on 7 for 0, still 23 runs behind. Openers Brandon King and Joshua Da Silva put on 85 before Taijul Islam broke through. Da Silva fell for 36, the sixth time Taijul has dismissed him, and King departed for 61 off 84 balls, with 11 fours, after Towhid Hridoy dropped him on 56.
Hodge then took the match away from Bangladesh. He reached his fifty off 78 balls, and he and debutant Kevin Wickham batted through the whole afternoon session without losing a wicket, adding 131 runs in 28 overs. Their third-wicket stand reached 165.
Hodge reached his century off 142 balls with a sweep off Taijul, his third Test hundred, and kept going after Wickham was caught and bowled by Taijul for 78. He passed his previous best with a cut off Hasan Mahmud and was still there at stumps on 140 not out off 189 balls, with 17 fours and a six. Amir Jangoo, unbeaten on 20, shared an unbroken 61-run stand with him. Bad light ended play minutes before the scheduled 4.30pm finish.
Why Does This Matter?
The innings has put West Indies within reach of a 2-0 series sweep. They won the first Test in Dhaka and now hold every card: a lead of 315, seven wickets in hand and a full day to press home the advantage. Bangladesh, who fought back through Hridoy's record 242 not out, must now survive or chase at least 316 on a wearing fifth-day pitch.
It is a landmark day for Hodge. The 140 not out is his highest Test score, beating the 123 not out he made against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui in December 2025, and it passed Darren Bravo's 127 at Khulna in 2012 as the highest score by a West Indian in a Test in Bangladesh. He also passed 1,000 Test runs in his 19th match. Wickham's 78 was his second half-century of the match, making him the first West Indies batter in 48 years to score two fifties on Test debut.
Important Details
Day four stumps: West Indies 345 for 3 (Hodge 140 not out, Wickham 78, King 61, Jangoo 20 not out; Taijul 2 for 118), leading by 315 runs.
Hodge: 140 not out off 189 balls, 17 fours and one six; century off 142 balls; third Test century; career best, passing his previous 123 not out against New Zealand in December 2025.
Records: highest score by a West Indian in a Test in Bangladesh, passing Darren Bravo's 127 at Khulna in 2012; Wickham is the first West Indies batter in 48 years with two fifties on Test debut.
First innings: West Indies 356 (Jangoo 133, Wickham 61; Hasan Mahmud 6 for 90); Bangladesh 386 (Hridoy 242 not out; Warrican 4 for 104).
Series: West Indies lead 1-0 after winning the first Test in Dhaka; this is the second and final Test, played 5-9 November 2026.
Background and Context
Hodge, a batting all-rounder from Dominica, made his Test debut against Australia at Adelaide in January 2024 and scored his maiden century against England at Trent Bridge that July, making 120. He had not converted a start in the first Test in Dhaka, and he said after the day's play that he was pleased to contribute this time, adding that West Indies would assess conditions before deciding when to declare. The match had swung Bangladesh's way on day three, when Hridoy's unbeaten 242, a Bangladesh Test record, carried the hosts to a 30-run first-innings lead; Hodge's reply has swung it back.
What Happens Next?
The fifth and final day is on Monday, 9 November 2026. West Indies will resume on 345 for 3 and must decide how long to bat on: an overnight declaration would leave Bangladesh chasing 316, while more runs would push the target higher but eat into the time available to bowl the hosts out.
What Readers Should Know
Hodge's innings was built on patience early and punishment of anything short or overpitched later. He reached his fifty off 78 balls and his hundred off 142, and he was still accelerating at stumps.
FAQs
What did Kavem Hodge score against Bangladesh?
Hodge was unbeaten on 140 off 189 balls at stumps on day four in Sylhet on 8 November 2026, his third Test century and his highest Test score.
What is West Indies' lead over Bangladesh?
West Indies lead by 315 runs, having reached 345 for 3 in their second innings after Bangladesh made 386 in their first. West Indies made 356 in their first innings.
When is the final day of the second Test?
The fifth and final day is Monday, 9 November 2026, in Sylhet. West Indies lead the two-match series 1-0.
Sources and Verification
Scores, figures and records here are cross-checked across ESPNcricinfo, Jamaica Observer (AFP), Dawn and Cricket Times, all published on 8-9 November 2026.
StoryTimesNow's sports desk reports scores and records from established cricket outlets and cross-checks them before publication. If a detail is corrected by the match officials, this article will be updated.
