Pink Ball Test: India in sight of another innings victory against Bangladesh
Kolkata/IBNS: Twenty-seventh Test century (136) by skipper Virat Kohli and another fine spell of bowling (4- 9 – 1 - 39) by speed star Ishant Sharma guided India in sight of another innings victory against Bangladesh when the stumps were drawn on the second day of the inaugural day-night cricket test at Eden Gardens here on Saturday.
At the end of the second day’s play, Bangladesh were putting up a grim fight to save the innings defeat and made 152 for 6 wickets in 32.3 overs in their second innings..
Earlier India declared their first innings scoring 347 runs losing nine wickets, thanks to 136 made by captain Kohli. Kohli while achieving his 70th international century was ably assisted by Cheteswar Pujara (55) and Ajinkya Rahane (51).
Top batsmen of Bangladesh displayed another pathetic show as top four of their batting line up, coming to bat for the second time, were out for 13 runs within seven overs.
Bangladesh, who scored a paltry 106 runs in their first innings on Friday, appeared heading for another dismal show but for the fine rearguard action by Mushfiqur Rahim who remained not out scoring 59 and Mahmudullah who retired hurt scoring 39. It is now remained to be seen whether Bangladesh can avoid the innings defeat which looks imminent on Sunday.
Like the first Innings, it was speed star Ishant- the chief wrecker of Bangladesh first innings- who dealt the initial blows maintaining fine line and length. He claimed the wickets of opener Shaman Islam and Md Mithun in the first and third over before they could open their accounts. Bangladesh score board then read only 2.
While Shadman, who was the highest scorer (29) in visitors’ first innings, failed to read correctly a faster delivery and was bowled, Mominul snicked it to the wicket keeper Saha.
Inspired by the early success, Ishant kept up the pressure and succeed again four overs later. This time he picked up the wicket of other opener Imrule Kayes.
Imrule was caught by Kohli after the former scored five in the seventh over. In between Umesh Yadav got the wicket of Md Mithun who failed to connect properly and was caught by Md Shami. Ishant’s fourth victim today was Mehdi Hasan who was also fighting a grim battle before being caught by Kohli off Ishant after making 15.
Indian pacer Umesh Yadav claimed the two other Bangladesh wickets on Saturday. Earlier the Indian captain scored his 27th Test ton to steer India to 347 for 9 in their first innings on the same day.
To achieve his 27th test century, Kohli stayed at the crease for 234 minutes and hit 12 bounderies off 159 deliveries. This was also his 70th international century beside being the first Indian to score the first century in pink ball.
Earlier Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane resumed the Indian innings with the over night score of 174 for 3 in reply to Bangladesh's first innings total of 106 runs made on Friday.
Though Bangla skipper Momimnul Haque introduced pace and spin attack through medium pacer Al-Amin Hossin and left arm spinner Md Taijul Islam, who replaced injured Litton Das.
But it did not produced the desired impact and the duo played comfortably and took the total to 234 before Rahane fell to the guile of Taijul Islam and was out being caught by Ebadat Hossain at point. Rahane scored 51 off 69 deliveries and hit seven boundaries.
For Bangladesh, Al Min and Ebadat Hossain bagged three wickets each while while Abu Jayed for two other Indian scalps.
(Images: BCCI, ICC Twitter)
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