AGENCY
Hyderabad: A dominant India remained in pursuit of a comprehensive victory after Bangladesh finished the penultimate day at a precarious 103 for three, chasing a mammoth target of 459 in the one-off Test here.
Rather than looking at the improbable task of scoring the remaining 356 runs, the visitors will try to stay afloat for minimum 90 overs on the fifth and final day and save the game. Despite the benign nature of the track, India’s bowling attack has firepower to get the remaining seven wickets. Ajinkya Rahane’s sharp one-handed catch off Ravindra Jadeja to dismiss a well-set Soumya Sarkar (42) put India in the driver’s seat after the visitors looked comfortable during the post-tea session as they started their second innings.
Sarkar, along with Mominul Haque (27), had added 60 runs for the second wicket before the lanky left-hander poked at a Jadeja delivery that didn’t turn much. The resultant edge was dipping down but Rahane showed fantastic reflexes to pull off a one-handed catch.
With the momentum broken, Ashwin then had Mominul deceived by the drift. The batsman pushed at a delivery, which turned a shade away to take the leading edge and present Rahane with another catch, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 75 for three. Ashwin (2/34 in 16 overs), who completed the fastest 250 Test wickets, gave a better account of himself in the second innings by getting the turn and the drift. Being given the new ball helped him get some bounce off the pitch as well.
The pitch is still not offering a great deal of turn to the spinners, and had no hand in the wickets that Bangladesh lost in the second innings. Seasoned Shakib Al Hasan (21 batting), along with Mahmudullah Riyadh (9 batting) and Mushfiqur Rahim, will need to bring their ‘A’ game to the fore in order to save the game.
In the post-lunch session, Cheteshwar Pujara scored a quickfire half-century as India declared their second innings at 159 for four at the stroke of tea, leaving Bangladesh with a daunting target.
Pujara smashed 54 off 58 balls while skipper Virat Kohli contributed 38 off only 40 deliveries after having bowled out Bangladesh for 388 in their first innings.
A cushion of 299 was good enough for the hosts to go for the jugular even though openers Murali Vijay (7) and KL Rahul (10) were dismissed in quick succession by Taskin Ahmed (2/43). But Pujara and Kohli upped the ante with an aim to have a a go at Bangladesh on the fourth day itself.
During their 67-run partnership, Pujara, surprisingly, was the aggressor even as Kohli scored at a quick pace. Using Taskin’s pace to his advantage, Pujara hooked him behind the square for a six. Kohli was not one to be left behind as he lofted Shakib effortlessly for a six over long-on.
score board
India 1st Innings 687/6 dec
Bangladesh 1st Innings 388/10
India 2nd Innings
Murali Vijay c Rahim b Taskin Ahmed 07
Lokesh Rahul c Rahim b Taskin Ahmed 10
Cheteshwar Pujara not out 54
Virat Kohli (c) c Mahmudullah b Shakib 38
Ajinkya Rahane b Shakib 28
Ravindra Jadeja not out 16
Extras 06
Total 159/4
Bangladesh 2nd Innings
Tamim Iqbal c Kohli b Ashwin 03
Soumya Sarkar c A Rahane b Ravi Jadeja 42
Mominul Haque c A Rahane b Ashwin 27
Mahmudullah batting 09
Shakib Al Hasan batting 21
Extras 01
Total 103/3
