Tigers Roar On as India Stands at 176-6 at Tea
Bangladesh bowlers continued its absolute domination over the Indian batters to keep the side aloft at tea on day one of the first cricket Test at M Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today. Fast bowler Hasan Mahmud claimed 4-35 as India reached 176-6 at the second interval of the day.
Another fast bowler Nahid Rana and offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz came up with ably support for Hasan to put India in further trouble at their own den, where they have been invincible over the last 12 years. After the captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and opted to bowl first, Hasan was all over against India, troubling them with swing and pace that was too tough to handle for the Indian star batters, who are historically vulnerable when the pitch assists the bowlers who can move the ball in both ways.
Hasan drew blood first when he unsettled Indian opener and captain Rohit Sharma with wobble seam. Rohit, who scored 6, only can edge to second slip where his opposite number Shanto made no mistakes to take the catch. In his next over, Hasan gave Bangladesh a double delight as Shubman Gill nicked a delivery going down the leg side for eight-ball-duck.
Hasan's next victim was Virat Kohli, who is considered as one of the best batsman in the world now. But over the last five years, his dipping form raised a question whether he should be termed as one of the best batsman in Test format. And he once again proved as to why the question raised. Hasan bowled a delivery touch shorter and outside off and unlike other best batters, Kohli chased this to gift his wicket after scoring just 6. Kohli's dismissal left India at tricky 34-3 in just 10th over as Bangladesh sensed an opportunity to expose India's tail early.
However, India's new sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishab Pant, playing his first Test after the deadly car accident, briefly halted Bangladesh's march, putting on 62-run for the fourth wicket. Hasan took the responsibility to break this partnership by removing Pant who edged a delivery behind to be out on 39.
Yashasvi Jaiswal meanwhile reached his fifth half-century, driving Miraz toward long-off for a single. Soon after Nahid Rana intimidated him with 148 kmph delivery which he could only fend to Shadman Islam at first slip. The new Indian start Jaiswal made 56 off 118 with nine fours. Miraz then put Bangladesh's nose ahead further, when he had KL Rahul caught by Zakir Hasan at short-leg for 16. Local boy Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were batting on 21 and 7 runs respectively when the tea was taken.
