Fatullah: The one-off cricket Test between India and Bangladesh seems to be meandering towards a tame draw after incessant rain halted the visiting spinners, who reduced the hosts to 111/3 in the only session of play that was possible on the fourth day here.

Only 30.1 overs could be squeezed in the opening session when bad light stopped play with Imrul Kayes (59 batting) and Shakib Al Hasan (0 batting) at the crease.

Earlier, India declared their first innings on the overnight total of 462/6. Bangladesh still trail by 351 runs but look set to sneak away with a draw thanks to weather gods.

With more than 200 overs lost due to frequent rain interruptions in the previous three days, the Virat Kohli-led visitors came out all guns blazing and picked up the first opposition wicket quite early only to see a bit of resistance from the second-wicket batting pair.

Facing the pace-spin combination of Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-30), opener Tamim Iqbal (19) became Bangladesh’s highest Test run-getter but soon fell to the guile of the wily off-spinner.

Surpassing former batsman Habibul Bashar (3026 in 50 Tests) to manage 3039 runs in 40 matches, Tamim was stumped while trying to counter Ashwin’s spin. The left-hander’s toe was on the line and the third umpire pushed the red button to send him back to the pavillion.

Mominul (30) joined Kayes (59 not out) at the crease and the duo steadied the Bangladeshi batting with an 81-run stand.

Kayes though was dropped on 10 when Shikhar Dhawan failed to latch on to the flying cherry on his left side as a dejected Umesh Yadav looked on.

Even a brief rain interruption in the 13th over did not spoil the concentration of the left-handed duo as Virat Kohli continued to juggle his regular bowling options.

(PTI)

Fatullah: Following an uninterrupted morning session, heavy showers first stopped play twice in the post-lunch session and then completely washed out the final session of play as India ended the third day at 462/6 in their first innings of the lone cricket Test against Bangladesh here on Friday.

Just after lunch, heavy showers delayed play for about an hour after which India came out to bat. The visitors had only scored 25 runs when the skies opened up again. When play resumed, only 6.2 overs could be bowled further when rain struck the Dhaka suburb again, forcing the players back to the pavilion and umpires to call tea.

The players remained in the pavilion as rain did not stop, forcing the third session to be called off at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium. Overall, India scored 223 runs with the Bangladeshi spinners taking full advantage of the conditions to claim six scalps after having gone wicket-less on Day 1.

Keeping in mind the rain, the Indian batsmen went all out to score at more than a run-a-ball in the second session at the same time losing three wickets.

Opening batsman Murali Vijay perished immediately after getting to his 150 when he was adjudged leg-before off ace spinner Shakib Al Hasan (4/105). Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha (6) also did not last long as he was bowled by 19-year-old leg-spinner Jubair Hossain (2/113).

Ajinkya Rahane (98) continued his charge and went for his shots, scoring boundaries around the ground, totalling 14 fours. However, Shakib struck again, bowling out the right-hander two runs short of what would have been his fourth Test century.

Ravichandran Ashwin (2 not out) and Harbhajan Singh (7 not out) were at the crease when the skies opened up again.

Earlier in the morning, the rain gods finally allowed play after heavy showers curtailed the match on the first day and completely washed out the second.

The first session of play was shared by the hosts and the visitors as Bangladesh finally managed to break the opening wicket partnership between Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan (173) and also bag two more vital wickets — that of ace batsman Rohit Sharma (6) and captain Virat Kohli (14).

At lunch time, Vijay and Rahane looked solid at the crease with India batting at 398/3.

India resumed the day at 239 for no loss and Dhawan, who had scored his third Test century on Wednesday, went about his business in usual fashion. The left-hander was aggressive from the start and attacked the Bangladeshi bowlers — spinners and pacers alike. Vijay also looked good as he brought up his sixth Test hundred.

While trying to accelerate, Dhawan went down the track but ace spinner Shakib read him and pitched to his foot. Dhawan top-edged and offered a catch to the bowler. The caught-and-bowled finally broke the first wicket partnership of 283 runs with Dhawan going back to the pavilion after scoring a brilliant 173 which included 23 boundaries.

Shakib was at it again as he clean bowled Rohit in his next over. The Indian batsman, who replaced regular No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara, totally wasted his opportunity by completely misjudging the delivery which pitched on off and straightened to rattle the off-stump.

Five overs later, skipper Kohli was also walking back to the pavilion as he played on a Hossain ball which rolled on to hit his stumps. Suddenly from 283 for no loss, India were 310/3. But, thereafter, Rahane and Vijay consolidated the innings, taking India close to 400.

(IANS)

Fatullah: Heavy showers washed out the second day’s play of the lone Test between India and Bangladesh at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium here on Thursday.

The match was supposed to start half an hour earlier than scheduled as rain washed away 34 overs of play on Wednesday. But heavy rains continued, leading the umpires to call off the day’s play without a ball being bowled.

Only 56 overs were bowled on Day 1 in which India scored 239 runs without losing a single wicket. Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay were unbeaten on 150 and 89, respectively.

India captain Virat Kohli had won the toss and opted to bat. Left-hander Dhawan was in rollicking form as he notched up his third Test century in only 101 balls, his first since February 2014. Vijay was a little slow off the blocks but gradually found his rhythm to end the day at a solid 89 not out, his 11th half-century.

(IANS)

Fatullah: India ended the first day of the one-off Test against Bangladesh at 239 for no loss at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium here on Wednesday.

After opting to bat, Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay piled on runs in the 56 overs they batted in a rain-marred day. Rain wiped out the entire second session and parts of the first and third periods of play.

Dhawan scored his third Test century and was at 150 not out at stumps with partner Vijay batting at 89 not out.

(IANS)