India were in the driver’s seat throughout the rain affected drawn Test against Bangladesh at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah. While heavy showers and bad light did not allow for even one full day’s play in Bangladesh, the visitors dominated with the bat and the ball over the five days. After Virat Kohli declared the first innings on 462 for six, the Ravichandran Ashwin-led attack bowled the hosts’ out for 256 and helped enforce the follow-on on the last day. The off-spinner claimed five wickets in the first innings. The match was called off with Bangladesh on 23 without loss in the second innings.
Earlier, resuming on the overnight score of 111 for three Imrul Kayes looked to continue to anchor the hosts’ innings in the only Test of the tour. Shakib Al Hasan, who had joined him on the fourth morning after Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh had accounted for the top-order was the first to return to the pavilion after play commenced. In the third over of the day the middle-order bat departed edging Ashwin to the wicketkeeper.
Soumya Sarkar then joined the opener in carrying the innings forward. With the wickets affording turn and bounce, Kohli persisted with spin from atleast one end having bowled both from both ends for a few overs. While Kayes continued to time the ball well and collected some crisp boundaries, the middle-order bat too chipped in to keep the scorecard ticking. However, with the partnership on 51, Kayes stepping out to Harbhajan missed, and was stumped by Wriddhiman Saha for 72.
In the following over Varun Aaron crashed Sarkar’s stumps with a pitched-up delivery. With the hosts struggling to stay afloat, Shuvagata Hom joined Litton Das in the middle as India continued to attack. while they looked to avoid the follow-on, Das lofted Ashwin for a straight six followed by a boundary to take his team to 200. The debutant followed up with two well timed boundaries off Umesh Yadav in the next as the hosts worked keeping their innings on course. Hom gave the youngster the strike, who having found the momentum milked the Indian bowlers.
However, at the stroke of tea, Ashwin had Hom caught at leg-slip and kept India in command. With the team struggling on 219 for seven Taijul Islam came out to the crease with the debutant in the final session of the day.
But Das who had kept the home team in the fray soon became Ashwin’s fifth wicket. Early in to the final session he was caught by Rohit Sharma at leg-slip. With the ball taking the inside edge of the bat, hitting the pad and flying over leg-slip the fielder took a one-handed catch to claim Bangladesh’s eight wicket.
Mohammad Shahid who then took guard holed out to Harbhajan to Shikhar Dhawan towards mid-on and departed for six. With the follow-on still looming in the horizon, a mix-up with the 11th man Jubair Hossain was run out as the batsmen looked for a third run.
Having wrapped-up Bangladesh’s first innings, India enforced follow-on in the only Test. Kohli attacked with Yadav and Ashwin as Tamim Iqbal and Kayes took guard once again.
The captain then turned to his off-spinners to create a breakthrough as India strove to tighten the noose around the Bangladesh line-up. But with no breakthrough and with the match inching towards the end of play, Murali Vijay and Dhawan bowled an over each before the match was called off.
Result: Match Drawn
End of Day 1: Ind 1st inn 239/0 in 56 overs (S Dhawan 150*, M Vijay 89*)
End of Day 2: No play due to rain
End of Day 3: Ind 1st inn 462/6 decl. in 103.3 overs (M Vijay 150, A Rahane 98, S Al Hasan 4/105)
End of Day 4: Ban 1st inn 111/3 in 30.1 overs (I Kayes 59*, R Ashwin 2/30, Harbhajan Singh 1/23)
End of Day 5: Ban 1st inn 256/10 in 65.5 overs (I Kayes 72, L Das 44, R Ashwin 5/87, Harbhajan Singh 3/62); F/o Ban 2nd inn 23/0 in 15 overs (T Iqbal 16*, I Kayes 7*)
Man of the Match: Shikhar Dhawan for his sparkling 173
