Yet another rain-hit day – not even a full session’s play was possible – sent the one-off Test between Bangladesh and India on its way to a draw. In the 30.1 overs possible, Bangladesh’s top order mounted an emphatic response for most of the morning session, but Harbhajan Singh and R Ashwin struck in quick succession – 15 minutes before lunch to give Bangladesh some anxious moments. However, the weather intervened 10 minutes before the scheduled lunch break to not allow any further play.
Knowing they wouldn’t likely need to bat too long in the Test, Bangladesh came out batting positively to keep India at bay. Imrul Kayes scored a quick half-century, Tamim Iqbal went past Habibul Bashar as the highest run-getter for Bangladesh, and Mominul Haque threatened to equal AB de Villiers’ record of half-centuries in 12 consecutive Tests. It was unlikely he would get another shot at the record: despite the two late wickets Bangladesh still seemed they might not need to bat again, especially with time sure to be lost to weather.
Playing three seamers, India opened with Ishant Sharma and R Ashwin, targeting the left-hand top three of Bangladesh. The way Tamim began to plant his front foot down against Ishant and play without trouble, you knew the quicks would need the ball to reverse to be effective. Ashwin bowled well, but the batsmen – with not too much to lose – attacked him too. Soon, though, in his third over, Ashwin got one to dip and beat the outside edge of Tamim for Wriddhiman Saha to register his first stumping in Tests.
The scoring didn’t abate as Kayes stroked his way to a third half-century. Umesh Yadav troubled him and Mominul with a bit of pace but enjoyed little luck, with thick edges flying for fours. Making his return to the Test side, Harbhajan was not at his best, and Bangladesh moved along merrily until Harbhajan found some rhythm and was joined by Ashwin towards the end of the first session. Bangladesh had galloped along to 99 for 1 in 23 overs when the two spinners came together. They now tied the left-hand batsman down, drawing appreciable turn and cutting out the loose deliveries. Four runs came off the next four overs, which prompted some risks.
Kayes first skipped down to Harbhajan but got away with quite a thick edge that flew over cover. Two balls later Mominul was not so lucky: he skied this slow loopy offbreak to give Harbhajan just reward for some improved bowling towards the end of the session. Immediately Ashwin ripped in a quick offbreak to the new batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, who was caught bat-pad at backward short leg. As Bangladesh’s best player, Shakib Al Hasan, walked out so did heavy clouds and a massive thunderstorm. The players went off for bad light, but rain arrived soon after.
TAMIM BREAKS BANGLADESH RECORD:
3039 Runs scored by Tamim Iqbal in Test cricket, the most by any Bangladesh batsman in Test history. He went past Habibul Bashar (3026) during his innings of 19 in the first innings.
4 Number of times India have declared their first innings in eight Tests against Bangladesh. It was also the fourth time they declared in the first innings in the last five Tests.
88 International matches that Harbhajan Singh has missed between his last appearance for India (2013) and this Test. India’s bowlers have bowled 62,130 overs in matches that Harbhajan didn’t play during this interim period.
1 Number of previous instances where Tamim has been dismissed stumped in a Test match – off Mohammad Hafeez in Khulna in April 2015. R Ashwin had him stumped in this first innings of this Test.
India 1st innings 462
Bangladesh 1st innings
Tamim Iqbal st †Saha b Ashwin 19
Imrul Kayes not out 59
Mominul Haque c Yadav b Harbhajan Singh 30
Mushfiqur Rahim* c RG Sharma b Ashwin 2
Shakib Al Hasan not out 0
Extras (nb 1) 1
Total (3 wickets; 30.1 overs) 111
To batSoumya Sarkar, Litton Das†, Shuvagata Hom, Jubair Hossain, Taijul Islam, Mohammad Shahid
Fall of wickets 1-27 (Tamim Iqbal, 5.6 ov), 2-108 (Mominul Haque, 27.5 ov), 3-110 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 28.5 ov)
Bowling
I Sharma 4-0-13-0, R Ashwin 11.1-2-30-2, UT Yadav 4-0-34-0, VR Aaron 4-0-11-0, Harbhajan Singh 7-0-23-1
MATCH DETAILS
Toss – India, who chose to bat
Test debut – Litton Das (Bangladesh)
Player of the match – tba
Umpires – HDPK Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) and NJ Llong (England)
TV umpire – Sharfuddoula
Match referee – AJ Pycroft (Zimbabwe)
Reserve umpire – Enamul Haque