Pant, Gill keep Bangladesh at bay in Chennai Test
Shubman Gill and Rishab Pant hit centuries to keep India in pole position to notch up a victory against Bangladesh in the Chennai Test. Chasing an improbable 515-run for a victory, Bangladesh reached 158-4 before the bad light put an end to the Day 3 earlier than the scheduled time at M Chidambaram Stadium today.
Bangladesh still needs 357 runs with six wickets at hands for the unlikely victory. No team has ever won the Test in the cricket's history, chasing more than 418 in the fourth innings. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was batting on 51 with Shakib Al Hasan on 5 when the bails were drawn for Day 3.
Gill hammered an unbeaten 119 while Pant made 109 as India declared the second innings on 287-4, shortly after the lunch session, setting 515-run target for Bangladesh. They were the antagonist to leave Bangladesh at bay, playing with attacking cricket after resuming the day on 81-3.
The method of Pant and Gill was just simple: to attack without fearing about losing the wicket and pitch and that paid the rich dividends as the relentless attack left the Bangladeshi bowlers clueless. The came together after India were reduced to 67-3, losing the likes of captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on Day 2 but both of them thrived on counterattack to set them in the crease.
Gill was the first one to reach his half-century, his seventh in his career off 79, smashing Mehidy Hasan Miraz a six over long-on. Pant who was initially slow, regained his touch quickly, by hitting some boundaries. He was particularly harsh on Bangladesh's best bowler Hasan Mahmud.
Pant, who is playing his first Test after the deadly car accident which nearly took his life two and half years ago, raised his 12th fifty off 88 balls, taking a single off Miraz through deep square leg. After completing the half-centuries, they unleashed some powerful shots from the repertoire in a bid to accelerate the innings as India aimed for an early declaration, keeping the rain forecast on Day 4 in mind.
Bangladesh bowlers, barring Shakib Al Hasan, in fact failed to create any chance in the whole morning session. Shakib produced a chance when Pant top-edged a delivery on 72 but captain Najmul Hossain Shanto failed to hold on it. Pant's second fifty came off just 26 balls, as he pushed Shakib to wide long-off for doubles to raise his sixth Test century off just 124 balls.
Soon after Gill joined him to complete his fifth century with a single off Miraz toward mid-wicket. Miraz however gave Bangladesh the first breakthrough of the day after the lunch session when he dismissed Pant, ending 167-run partnership between him and Gill. After the dismissal of Pant, Gill and KL Rahul who was not out on 22 took the lead past 500.
With two and half days to survive for a positive result, Bangladesh openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam made a promising start, sharing 62-run. Jasprit Bumrah then broke the partnership, getting rid of Zakir who made 33. Ravichandran Ashwin took the rest of the fallen three wickets for 63 runs, putting Bangladesh on the knife-edge of a defeat.
He started with the wicket of Shadman who scored 35 and then dismissed Mominul Haque for 13, turning one past him viciously. Ashwin also troubled veteran Mushfiqur Rahim with his turn and guile before removing him for 13. Shanto was playing with unwavering resolve and brought up his first fifty after 10 innings of the Test off just 55 balls, when he swept Ashwin for a six over deep backward square leg. India earlier were bowled out for 376 in its first innings, with Hasan Mahmud taking 5-83. But Jasprit Bumrah and co earned the side a 227-run first innings, lead wrapping up Bangladesh for just 149 runs.
