Hyderabad: Indian bowlers faced dogged resistance from the Bangladesh middle-order led by captain Mushfiqur Rahim (81 batting, 206b, 12×4) who took his team to 322 for six at stumps on day three of the one-off Test here Saturday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s (82, 103b, 14×4) attacking knock also contributed to Bangladesh’s fightback. At close of play, Rahim had Mehedi Hasan Miraz (51 batting, 103b, 10×4) giving him company. The two have so far put on an unbeaten stand of 87 runs for the seventh wicket. However, they still need 166 runs to avoid the follow on.
Umesh Yadav (2/72) was India’s best bowler on display but spin twins Ravichandran Ashwin (1/77) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/60 overs) didn’t look incisive despite being economical on a track that is still pretty good for batting. Ashwin in fact was hit for 12 boundaries during the day. Ishant Sharma (1/54) was the other wicket-taker on the day.
While India still have the upper hand with two full days of play, Bangladesh certainly would have gained confidence as they showed stomach for some fight in the last two sessions of the game after a poor morning.
The young Miraz showed maturity beyond his years to help his captain by playing risk-free cricket, only hitting the loose deliveries en route to a maiden Test half century.
The best part was the application of Miraz and Mushfiqur in the final session. There was a point of time when Mushfiqur had scored only four runs in an hour after tea.
The post lunch session was comparatively better for Bangladesh with 121 runs coming for the loss of two wickets. But India after getting Shakib and Sabbir Rahman (16) in quick succession, looked in complete control before Mushfiqur and Miraz defended dourly.
Shakib, who was instrumental in stemming the first session rot however, missed out on a well-deserved century due to a moment of indiscretion. He couldn’t properly connect a lofted shot after giving Ashwin the charge and Umesh Yadav gleefully accepted the easiest of catches at mid-on.
His balance was all awry, he didn’t reach to the pitch of the delivery and above all the situation didn’t warrant that shot with 107 runs already being added by him and other senior pro Mushfiqur for the fifth wicket.
Shakib’s shot selection has been a talking point despite his immense abilities as an all-rounder. Some of the imperious cover drives off Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yadav were a treat for the eyes. He also attacked Jadeja slogging him to the cow corner.
He got an able ally in Mushfiqur, who kept the scorecard busy with his ramp shots off Ishant and the dabs off both Jadeja and Ashwin with an occasional cut to point.
Earlier Yadav rattled the Bangladesh batsmen with pace while Ishant got some reverse swing going his way as the visitors lost three wickets in the pre-lunch session and looked in a spot of bother.
PTI
