Bangladesh fightback ensures thrilling end to Test series against India in 2nd Test at Mirpur
In what will be a thrilling final day of the short two-match Test series between India and Bangladesh, the home team will need 6 wickets while the visitors will need to show more intent and positive approach to make the remaining 100 runs to win the second and final Test at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, on Sunday.
In the chase of 145 to win, the Indian side struggled in the final overs of the third day’s play to be restricted to 45/4 with a huge chunk of their batting dismissed, including former captain Virat Kohli who had a disappointing run with the bat in this Test series. The third day’s play would also be a day to forget for the legendary player, who despite being an excellent fielder, dropped as many as four catches.
Virat Kohli also had an angry exchange of words with some of the Bangladeshi players after he was dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who claimed 3 wickets on the third day evening.
The batting continued to flop in general for both the teams on the first three days of the Test with India responding to Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 227 with just 314 runs on the scoreboard, taking up vital lead of 87 runs in the first innings — something which was instrumental in the eventual total that the Indian team has to chase if they have to win the contest in the series.
The Indian top order had flopped again but a vital 159-run stand for the fifth wicket between Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant revived India in the contest, putting them in a position from where they could take a first-innings lead.
Both Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant were unfortunate to miss out on deserving centuries, with the right-handed number six Shreyas Iyer making 87 from 105 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes while Rishabh Pant producing yet another whirlwind knock of 93 from 104 balls with 7 fours and 5 sixes.
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan took 4/79 from his 19.3 overs while the left-arm spinner Taijul Islam snaffled 4/74 after sending down 25 overs.
Bangladesh batsmen flopped once again in home conditions against the Indian bowlers, but the final four batsmen in the company of Litton Das added as many as 118 runs to push the team’s total to 231 in the second innings.
The right-handed aggressive batsman Litton Das, who tore into the Indian bowlers during their ICC T20 World Cup 2022 meeting in Adelaide Oval with a sensational half-century, gave a glimpse of his talent again with a fighting 73 a day after he was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, which came from 93 balls and 7 boundaries.
In the company of Nurul Hassan and Taskin Ahmed, who both made identical 31, Litton Das was able to take on the Indian bowlers and stretch the lead for Bangladesh in the second innings. The 7th wicket partnership between Litton Das and will season lasted for 48 balls and added 46 runs while for the 8th wicket, the tailender Taskin Ahmed and Litton Das added 60 from 76 balls.
India began the chase tentatively with their captain KL Rahul dismissed for 2 in the 3rd over, Cheteshwar Pujara stumped for 6 in the 8th over and Shubman Gill also stumped, off Mehidy Hasan Miraz, for 7 in the 15th over of the innings. The matters became worse for India when the right-arm Mehidy Hasan Miraz had Virat Kohli caught at short leg for a 22-ball 1, but Akshar Patel’s 54-ball 26 not out with 3 fours took them to 45/4 when the play was called off for the day.