BANGLADESH: In the final session of a tumultuous Day 3 of the second test match between India and Bangladesh, both sides’ bowlers claimed seven wickets. However, the home team reigned supreme, removing the four of the Indian batting lineup.
India vs Bangladesh day 3 highlights
Bangladesh’s second innings folded at 231, setting India a target of 145. The Bangladeshi bowlers returned to destroy India’s top order as spinners Mehidy Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan sent KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli back to the hut for only 37 runs.
With Axar Patel and Jaydev Unadkat seeing off the rest of the day without hiccups, India finished the day with 45 for 4, with 100 more to get.
Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam, a left-arm spinner, tore into the Indian second innings. The Bangladesh captain managed to get his opposite number, KL Rahul. Rahul nicked a flighted delivery that spun away from him and to the keeper in the third over.
With a few fielders around the bat, Bangladesh increased the pressure, which paid off handsomely. In the past, Cheteshwar Pujara has been content to give spinners the charge, but this time he was hesitant.
He danced down against Mehidy but didn’t know whether to shoot or block the ball. He missed the delivery, and the keeper dislodged the bails before he could make it back to the crease in time.
As the light dimmed, India elevated Axar Patel to no. 4 as the “night watchman.” Shubman Gill was the next to fall, and he also stepped out to Mehidy, but he missed the ball and was stumped.
Bangladesh went into wild celebrations when Virat Kohli inside-edged a Mehidy delivery to Mominul Haque, who snatched the catch brilliantly at short leg. At 45 for 4, India did not suffer any further losses throughout the day.
Although India lost the plot of the game after allowing Bangladesh to maintain the day’s ever-shifting momentum, they had started it much better. R Ashwin gave opener Najmul Hossain Shanto trouble twice in the first over of the day, offering turn and bounce.
India lost a review for LBW as Najmul escaped the first time, but he was unsuccessful on the subsequent ball, getting trapped leg before. Before the lunch break, Mohammed Siraj and Jaydev Unadkat each took a wicket to reduce Bangladesh to 71 for 4.
However, Zakir Hasan scored a half-century in the second session, which saw the game move twice as fast. He succumbed to a harmless delivery shortly after that, but Bangladesh quickly moved ahead thanks to Litton Das’ fighting innings and Nurul Hasan’s cameo.
Litton’s fifty and Nurul’s 29-ball 31, despite Axar regularly striking for India, kept the hosts at bay. Litton found a tenacious partner in Taskin Ahmed, who also contributed 31 runs and forged a 60-run stand for the eighth wicket as Nurul fell with the score at 159 for 7.
Bangladesh’s second innings ended early into the final session for 231 before their bowlers wreaked havoc and set themselves up for an intriguing game of cricket over the upcoming two days.
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