Indian spinners made early inroads into the Bangladesh batting after an overnight declaration, leaving the hosts at 111 for three when early lunch was taken owing to bad light on Day 4 of the rain-hit one-off cricket Test here today.
After declaring their first innings on the overnight score 462 for six, India came all guns blazing and picked up the first opposition wicket soon only to see a bit of a resistance from the second-wicket batting pair.
Facing the fast-spin combination of Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-30), who shared the new ball with the lanky pacer, 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 (out).
Mominul Haque (30) joined Imrul Kayes (59 not out) at the crease and the duo provided a calming influence to the Bangladesh 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.
But the introduction of comeback-man Harbhajan Singh (1-23) changed things for the visitors as the ‘Turbanator’ delivered in his sixth over to send Mominul packing.
Jumping out of his crease to the veteran off-spinner, Mominul attempted a big shot but ended up skying the ball as Umesh Yadav took it safely at mid-off.
With spin from both ends, Ashwin struck once again and got skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (2) back in the pavilion.
