Finance
Mehidy Hasan Miraz took three wickets in a stunning spell as India collapsed in a 145-run chase to end day three of the second Test at 45/4 in 23 overs. To win the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, the visitors need 100 more runs with six wickets in hand on a deteriorating pitch.
In their second innings, Bangladesh were at 113/6. However, Litton Das’ counter-attacking 73 assisted the hosts in scoring 118 runs off the last four wickets. As Bangladesh made 231 in 70.2 overs, he led a spirited fightback with crucial partnerships of 46 with Nurul Hasan, who made 31, and 60 with Taskin Ahmed, who was unbeaten on 31.
Bangladesh’s bowlers attacked the stumps frequently and were accurate with their line and length in their 145-run defense. As India’s top four batters went on an ultra-defensive approach and lost their wickets, the spinners hit the rough patches constantly and reaped the rewards with persistent pressure.
Captain Shakib Al Hasan gave Bangladesh an early breakthrough by drawing his Indian counterpart KL Rahul for a forward defence, but the thick outer edge was caught by Nurul Hasan behind.
After an initial fumble, Cheteshwar Pujara danced down the pitch to defend against Mehidy, but he was beaten on the outside edge and stumped by Nurul. Shubman Gill’s struggle ended when he came down the pitch to face Mehidy, but missed the delivery and was easily stumped.
Virat Kohli survived a lbw challenge from Taijul Islam after replays revealed an inside edge. However, three overs later, Kohli pushed forward to defend against Mehidy, and the inside edge was caught by a quick short leg.
Axar Patel, who was promoted to number four, was aggressive at the crease, punching and pulling against the spinners to finish unbeaten on 26, while Jaydev Unadkat was not out on three. On Saturday, a tense day of Test cricket set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the match on day four.
Earlier, Das started the final session with a lovely lofted drive over cover off Mohammed Siraj for a boundary, before punching off Axar through backward point for four more. Taskin got a thick edge past the gully off Siraj, bringing the half-century of the partnership.
When Mohammed Siraj’s nip-backer castled Das through the gate, he broke the partnership. Ravichandran Ashwin trapped Taijul lbw in the next over, and Khaled Ahmed was run-out to end Bangladesh’s innings.
Axar finished with 3/68 for India, while Siraj and Ashwin each had two wickets, and Unadkat and Umesh Yadav each had one. Bangladesh’s counter-attack began to take shape in the second session, as India made fielding errors. Notably, Kohli dropped three catches at slip, including shelling opportunities for Das on 20 and 49.
India’s second session began on a sour note when they lost their third and final review in the 37th over, when replays confirmed that Zakir had an inside edge on an inswinger from Unadkat.
Zakir reached his fifty with a three-run straight drive on the front foot, enhancing his credentials as a long-term Test opener with another mature knock. But he fell quickly, unable to keep an expansive cut down off Umesh and giving third man a good low catch.
Das had two early escapes against Axar, when Kohli failed to take catches at slip, giving the right-hander two boundaries. In his next over, however, he was successful when he trapped Mehidy Hasan Miraz lbw while going for a sweep.
Nurul began the counterattack by slashing Umesh through covers for a boundary, then danced down the pitch to smack Ashwin for a six over long-on.
Das joined the party by sweeping Axar through twice on the leg-side for a pair of boundaries.
Nurul was given a reprieve when Axar extracted the outside edge of his bat, but the ball deflected off the keeper’s glove and Kohli at slip couldn’t take the catch, resulting in a boundary for the batter. Nurul came out to bat against Axar and was stumped, bringing the partnership to an end.
Axar trapped Das lbw with a skiddy, faster delivery on the stroke of tea. However, Bangladesh was able to overturn the on-field decision after replays revealed that the ball had missed the leg stump. Kohli took another catch off Ashwin at first slip, giving Das a reprieve and his half-century. Das and Ahmed each took a boundary off Ashwin and Axar respectively till tea arrived.
Ashwin took out Najmul Hossain Shanto in the morning by trapping him lbw, a ball after surviving a close leg-before decision. Mominul Haque nicked behind to Siraj’s keeper. On the stroke of lunch, Unadkat dismissed Shakib after his checked drive was chipped to cover, while Axar trapped Mushfiqur Rahim lbw.
After lunch, Bangladesh fought back with bat and ball, leaving India in trouble.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 227 in 73.5 overs and 231 in 70.2 overs (Litton Das 73, Nurul Hasan 31; Axar Patel 3/58, Mohammed Siraj 2/41) lead India 314 in 86.3 overs and 45/4 in 23 overs (Axar Patel 26 not out; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 3/12) by 100 runs
Source:IANS
