The rain gods seemed to enjoy interrupting a healthy contest between bat and ball as the Indian batsmen, propelled by Murali Vijay’s well-deserved century and Ajinkya Rahane’s brilliant 98, looked to extract the maximum out of an utterly hopeless situation while the Bangladesh bowlers, led by the charismatic Shakib Al Hasan, staged a strong fightback in the one-off Test at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium here on Friday.
After three rain-stoppages between lunch and tea and altogether 47.3 overs of play, the umpires finally drew stumps at 4.10 p.m. (local time) with India on 462 for six in its first innings. R. Ashwin (2) and Harbhajan Singh (7) were holding fort.
With the weatherman predicting wet days ahead, the chance of this Test producing a result looks slim.
When Shikhar Dhawan, on 150, and Vijay, on 89, returned to the crease after the second day was washed out, they hardly had any problems getting off the blocks. They added 44 more runs to the team’s first day score of 239.
The home bowlers, who regrouped following the break, gave a disciplined performance and played on the patience of the batsmen, flighting the ball consistently. Shakib, the biggest sporting hero of the country, rose to the occasion, scalping four wickets.
Armed with control and acumen, the left-arm spinner varied his releases to best effect, and also subtly used the crease. His angling deliveries, coupled with a nice loop and dip, proved deceptive.
The breakthrough Shakib, who had figures of none for 34 off nine overs on the first day, provided the breakthrough in the 12th over of the day when he bowled at Dhawan’s legs on seeing the southpaw charge out. He happily accepted a leading edge from Dhawan (173, 195b, 23x4) and became the first from Bangladesh to claim 100 Test wickets on home soil.
In his next over, Shakib invited Rohit Sharma for a shot and bowled him through the gate.
A lucky breakthrough, in the form of Virat Kohli, by young leg-spinner Jubair Hossain charged up the holiday crowd as the tourists lost three wickets in the span of seven overs.
However, a stoic Vijay (150, 272b, 12x4) and a selfless Rahane (98, 103b, 14x4) joined forces to make light of the situation.
Vijay excelled with his amazing determination and unwavering composure, while Rahane relied on solid temperament and superb technique.
The duo put on another crucial partnership of 114 runs to keep alive the possibility of India pushing for a win.
The two ran well between the wickets and picked up boundaries whenever the bowlers erred.
Vijay, who steered Taijul Islam to the point boundary to reach his sixth century, notched up his third 150-plus score before being adjudged lbw to Shakib.
Rahane again played according to the team’s needs. Scoring at a faster pace, the Mumbai batsman took on the most successful home bowler, Shakib, and punished the left-arm spinner’s most potent weapon, the flighted delivery, hammering him on both sides of the wicket.
After hitting Shakib for two consecutive fours, Rahane lost his wicket trying another big shot.
He was bowled with a shortish ball and missed his hundred by a whisker.
Jubair, the other successful Bangladesh bowler, castled Wriddhiman Saha with a googly.
