Bangladesh survived a hostile Indian bowling attack to reach 107-3 before the combination of rain and bad light marred the Day 1 of the second and final Test at Green Park in Kanpur, reports BSS.
India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and sent Bangladesh in to bat first but just 35 overs of play were possible on the day.
Mominul Haque was batting on 40 with veteran Mushfiqur Rahim on 6 when the day’s play was called off.
After a delayed start to the day due to wet outfield, caused by overnight rain, Bangladesh were watchful in the face of some disciplined bowling from Indian bowlers who used the moisture effectively to leave the batters in tatters.
But the first breakthrough came in the ninth over, when Akash Deep Singh ended Zakir Hasan’s painful stay in the crease.
A struggling Zakir was out for duck after playing 24 balls as he edged a length delivery to first slip.
His opening partner Shadman Islam seemed to be at ease in dealing with India bowlers—specially the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj-- but three overs later, Akash, who ended the day with 2-34, swung a delivery nicely to trap him leg-before for 24.
With the combination of caution and aggression, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque managed to stay aloft by keeping the Indian bowlers at bay, but that was possible only for a brief period.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin broke through with the wicket of Shanto, who was trapped lbw after being beaten by a delivery that didn’t turn as much as he expected. Shanto hit six boundaries in his 57 ball-31 run knock.
Bumrah and Siraj, the two frontline pacers of India were largely luckless despite finding the edge of the batters numerously.
Mominul who played some beautiful shots in his patient innings helped the side keep unscathed before the rain and bad light brought a premature end to the day.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
