CHATTOGRAM, Dec 15, 2022 (BSS) - A familiar batting collapse put Bangladesh in a serious trouble in the first Test against India after they were reduced to 133-8 in their first innings on day two of the game at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here.
At stumps, Bangladesh are trailing by 271 runs, in reply to India's 404 in the first innings. They still need 72 runs to avoid the follow-on. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was batting on 16 with Ebadot Hossain on 13 as the bails were drawn today.
India's left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the wrecker-in-chief with 4-33 and was complemented by an inspirational Mohammed Siraj who ripped through Bangladesh's top-order in a gem of pace bowling, finishing with 3-14.
As has been the case always, Bangladesh batters also played wretched shot in a format where they haven't won any game at home since 2020.
Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored for the side with 28 and Liton Das made 24. Debutant Zakir Hasan added 20.
The Tigers made a horrible start with Najmul Hossain Shanto edging Siraj behind the wicket in the first ball. The situation got worsened when pacer Umesh Yadav claimed the wicket of Yasir Ali (4), leaving Bangladesh at 5-2.
But Liton Das gave Bangladesh a relief by counterattacking the India bowlers. He hit Umesh three boundaries in a row before Siraj produced a beauty, jagging one in slightly to rattle his stump.
Siraj then further troubled Bangladesh, dismissing Zakir who poked a moving delivery to wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant.
Bangladesh heavily relied on Mushfiqur Rahim to get them past the situation. And Mushfiqur Rahim reacted with series of sweep shots, his favourite shot to dominate the Indian spinners.
But Kuldeep who struck in his just second ball, claiming the big wicket of captain Shakib Al Hasan (3) was unfazed by the attack of Mushfiqur.
He kept turning the ball and finally was successful to have Mushfiqur leg-before as the batter failed to read the length completely.
Kuldeep then made Bangladesh eight down for 102, taking the wicket of Taijul Islam for duck before Mehidy and Ebadot resisted to see off the day.
Earlier Kuldeep added 92-run with Ravichandran Ashwin for the eighth wicket to help India propel past 400-run mark.
Ashwin scored 58 off 113 with two fours and two sixes and Kuldeep hit 40. The partnership was key to keep India going after the dismissal of Shreyas Iyer, the last recognized batter of the side.
After India resumed at 278-6, Ashwin started in aggressive fashion, hitting Mehidy Hasan for a six over long on as India appeared to be in control.
Bangladesh made matters worse by dropping Iyer on 85 - for the third time in the game. He top-edged a short delivery off pacer Ebadot Hossain but Liton Das put down the catch at fine-leg.
Iyer survived on 30 and 67 on day one and on 77, Bangladesh could have dismissed him but the bails did not drop despite Ebadot's delivery hitting the stumps.
The disappointment didn't last long as Ebadot knocked off the stumps in his next over to dismiss Iyer for 86. His 192-ball-innings included 10 fours.
Kuldeep and Ashwin looked in completed control before Mehidy broke the partnership with the wicket of later and India lost the last three wickets for 19 runs.
For Bangladesh, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed four wickets apiece. Two pacers-Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed took the rest of the two fallen wickets evenly.
