In reply to India’s first innings score of 462 for six, Bangladesh were trailing by 351 runs with seven wickets in hand at stumps on the fourth day when play was called off due to bad weather. The visitors declared their innings on the overnight score giving themselves an opportunity to push for a result if the weather permits. However, play wasn’t possible beyond the first session due to rain. Imrul Kayes was batting on 59 with Shakib Al Hasan yet to open his account when players were forced off the field a little before the scheduled end of the first session. With Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh making dents in the Bangladesh top-order in the morning, the hosts were 111 for three when play was stopped.
Under the cloudy skies Virat Kohli opened the bowling with Ishant Sharma and Ashwin at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah. While Ishant bowled a good first spell, the off-spinner gave the team their first breakthrough with the wicket of Tamim Iqbal. The opener, who had looked in good nick during his brief stay at the crease and had lofted the spinner for a couple of boundaries, was sent back for 19.
Complimenting Ashwin, quick work by Wriddhiman Saha behind the stumps had left the hosts on 27 for one.
Couple of overs later, Mominul Haque who then came to the crease smacked Umesh Yadav who had replaced Ishant for three boundaries to keep the home team on course. The pacer however created a chance in his next over which would have seen the back of Kayes, but Shikhar Dhawan in the slips couldn’t hold on to the ball and conceded four. The batsman collected four more off the next ball as the hosts continued to counter India’s bowling.
Almost an hour into the day’s play rain made a brief appearance. Once the game resumed Kayes and Haque continued to negotiate the Indian bowlers and maintain a steady flow of runs.
It was in the 18th over that Ashwin was replaced by Harbhajan while the pacers continued to bowl from the other end. Yadav who was relatively expensive was replaced by Varun Aaron who kept the batsmen tied down.
In an effort to rein in the Bangladesh innings which had gone past the three-figure mark for the cost of just one wicket, India captain brought back Ashwin into the attack and bowled spinners from both ends. The senior off-spinner, who is back in the team after a couple of years maintained a tight line as India looked for yet another breakthrough before Lunch.
Looking to take on Harbhajan, Haque holed out to mid-off and departed for 30. At 108 for two, Mushfiqur Rahim walked out to the middle but edged Ashwin to Rohit Sharma at leg-slip in the next; the ball turned, edged past the bat on to the pad before popping towards the fielder.
Kayes, who had anchored the innings until then was joined by Shakib to take the innings forward but once again rain stopped play in the only Test in Bangladesh. Thereafter rain, wet out-field and poor light did not allow for play to resume.
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)
