Pacers strengthen India’s command in first Test against Bangladesh

CHENNAI: Jasprit Bumrah-led India bowling attack booked Bangladesh on a modest total as the hosts secured a massive 308-run lead at the Stumps on the second day of the opening Test here at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday.

At the closure of an eventful second day of the Chennai Test, India were well-settled at 81/3 in the second innings with opener Shubman Gill (33) and wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant (12) at the crease.

The home side, however, had a dismal start as their top-order faltered once again with skipper Rohit Sharma (5) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (10) perishing cheaply, leaving them reeling at 28/2.

Star batter Virat Kohli then partnered briefly with batting prodigy Shubman Gill until falling victim to Mehidy Hasan Miraz, scoring a mere 17. The duo shared a 39-run stand.

Gill was then joined by Pant in the middle and together they raised an unbeaten 14 runs for the fourth wicket before the on-field umpires called it a day.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s batting unit unfolded on a meagre 149, courtesy of a four-wicket haul by ace India pacer Jasprit Bumrah.

The right-arm pacer opened the floodgates by dismissing opening batter Shadman Islam (2) in the first over.

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Fellow pacers Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj backed India’s head start with the ball by picking up two wickets each.

The visitors had lost half of their side with just 40 runs on the board.

Following the slump, veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (32) and wicketkeeper batter Litton Das (22) offered some fightback with a gutsy 51-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

But, Bangladesh’s chances for a turnaround were quashed by Ravindra Jadeja, who removed both set batters in his successive overs, reducing the touring party to 92/8.

Bumrah and Siraj then ran through Bangladesh’s batting tail to give India a 227-run lead.

At the start of the second day, India resumed their first innings at 339/6 with centurion Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja going strong.

But the home side could add 37 more runs to their first innings’ total at the cost of their remaining four wickets and thus, were eventually bundled out on 376.

Ashwin remained the top-scorer for India with a brilliant 113-run knock, followed by Jadeja, who made a gutsy 86.

Hasan Mahmud was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, picking up a five-wicket haul, followed by Taskin Ahmed, who claimed two wickets. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nahid Rana shared two wickets between them.

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