Placed second behind the Australian legend Don Bradman in the conversion rate of 50 to 100, India captain Virat Kohli scored his 27th Century against Bangladesh in the second Test of the series at the Eden Gardens on Saturday.
Thanks to Kohli’s hundred (136), India, resuming from overnight 174 for three, declared at 347 for nine, garnering a 241-run first innings lead to dictate the course of the first-ever pink-ball Test in the country.
Bangladesh rode on Mushfiqur Rahim’s fighting unbeaten 59 to partially recover from another disastrous start to be at 152 for six in its second essay at stumps on day two.
Beginning the innings in a hazy and warm afternoon, Kohli and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane, who were on 59 and 23 respectively, took off on a batsman-friendly pitch.
They put on a 99-run stand during which Rahane, who drove and flicked with confidence even while playing some unsafe shots to the ropes, reached his 21st half-century.
Change of ball
The older pink leather, unlike its red cousin, could hardly pose any threat as the Bangladeshi bowlers went through the motions. However, they gained confidence after the ball was changed in the 55th over.
Bowling from the second over of the day, Taijul Islam relished the changed ball as he bowled slower, gave flight and extracted turn to beat the Indian batsmen. He scalped Rahane (51), who played straight to point.
Kohli, who unleashed some copybook cover-drives, entertained the crowd, which thronged in huge numbers for the second consecutive day. Amidst chants of ‘Kohli, Kohli!’, the India skipper played Taijul to the leg side for a double to score his second consecutive hundred at the Eden.
Kohli, who welcomed Abu Jayed by striking four consecutive boundaries past gully, mid-on, midwicket and cover, added 51 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (12). The partnership was broken by Ebadot Hossain in the first over after supper.
In the twilight period, Bangladesh took the new ball immediately after the 80th over.
Stunning catch
Taijul, who bowled continuously for 17 overs, had a massive hand in removing Kohli in the 81st over. The century-maker flicked Ebadot to see Taijul, positioned at fine-leg, move to his right and complete a stunning two-handed catch.
India declared with 44 overs left in the day and its speedsters, bowling to a field set with six men behind the stumps, again breathed fire.
Ishant carried on his fine form to trap Shadman Islam in the first over and had Imrul Kayes and captain Mominul Haque too in no time.
The stationary Bangladeshi batsmen looked clueless as their team tottered at four for 13 in the seventh over. The visitors were in clear discomfort handling the short stuff as Mohammed Mithun became the third batsman to be hit on the helmet by a bouncer, this time from Ishant.
Mithun hung on before giving a simple catch to short mid-wicket off Umesh Yadav.
The experienced pair of Mushfiqur Rahim, who got a blow from an Umesh delivery, and Mahmudullah, who was tested by Shami with some rising deliveries, showed courage to resist the hostility of the Indian pace attack.
However, the 69-run stand ended unfortunately with Mahmudullah (39) retiring hurt, owing to a right hamstring issue.
Mushfiqur, who collected most of his runs through cut shots and twice used the DRS to survive, hit Ishant to the point boundary to get to his defiant half-century. He added a useful 51 runs with Mehidy Hasan, who got a reprieve off Ashwin on four, but fell on Ishant’s return.
The day ended with Taijul’s departure.
Scoreboard
Bangladesh 1st innings: 106 all out
India 1st Innings: Mayank Agarwal c Mehidy Hasan b Al-Amin 14; Rohit Sharma lbw b Ebadat Hossain 21; Cheteshwar Pujara c Shadman Islam b Ebadat Hossain 55; Virat Kohli c Taijul Islam b Ebadat Hossain 136; Ajinkya Rahane c Ebadat Hossain b Taijul Islam 51; Ravindra Jadeja b Abu Jayed 12; Wriddhiman Saha not out 17; Ravichandran Ashwin lbw b Al-Amin 9; Umesh Yadav c Shadman Islam b Abu Jayed 0; Ishant Sharma lbw b Al-Amin 0; Mohammed Shami not out 10.Extras (B-12, LB-2, W-8) 22
Total (For 9 wkts in 89.4 Overs) 347
Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-43, 3-137, 4-236, 5-289, 6-308, 7-329, 8-330, 9-331.
Bangladesh bowling: Al-Amin Hossain 22.4-3-85-3, Abu Jayed 21-6-77-2, Ebadat Hossain 21-3-91-3, Taijul Islam 25-2-80-1.
Bangladesh second innings: Shadman Islam lbw b Ishant 0; Imrul Kayes c Kohli b Ishant 5; Mominul Haque c Saha b Ishant 0; Mohammad Mithun c Shami b Umesh 6; Mushfiqur Rahim batting 59; Mahmudullah retd hurt 39; Mehidy Hasan c Kohli b Ishant 15; Taijul Islamc Rahane b Umesh 11. Extras: (B-8, LB-4, W-5) 17
Total: 152/6 in 32.3 overs
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 3-9, 4-13, 5-133, 6-152
Indian bowling: Ishant 9-1-39-4, Umesh 10.3-0-40-2, Mohammed Shami 8-0-42-0, Ravichandran Ashwin 5-0-19-0.