Match Highlights of Bangladesh Vs India, Day 3, 2nd Test at SBNS, Mirpur (Jan 26)

Bangladesh for the first time in the series proved that they are not so bad after all by putting up a solid 228 for 3 batting out 60 overs and taking the match into the fourth day. Opener Tamim Iqbal led the way with a superb 151 in just 183 balls to cut the deficit of Bangladesh down to 83 runs.

The hosts would have been in a superior position had they not lost the wickets of the well set Tamim and Junaid Siddique in the last 20 minutes of play due to the reverse swing from Zaheer Khan. The Bangladeshi pair had put on a sparkling 200-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. However, India have an early breakthrough waiting for them on the fourth day with the presence of nightwatchman Shahadat Hossain.

India had earlier batted out the entire morning session to stretch the score to 544 for 8 declared. The visitors finished with a lead of 311 before running out of their batting resources. Rahul Dravid with a fractured cheek bone owing to yesterday’s bouncer from Shahadat Hossain and Yuvraj Singh with a ligament tear in his wrists did not come out to bat. That left MS Dhoni as the only batsman left with the tail and the Indian Captain fell short of his century by 11 runs. There was nothing noteworthy of the morning session with the Bangladeshis bowling like school kids and the Indian players working their runs in singles and the occasional boundary.

Overnight batsman Zaheer Khan was bounced out to begin with, top edging a hook off Shafiul without opening his account. Dhoni after that smartly got a 51-run partnership with Ishant Sharma. Ojha helped him to add 26 more runs before the Indian Skipper was dragged out of his crease by part time leggie Raqibul.

Bangladesh getting to start their second innings in the post lunch session found it easy with the new ball not swinging at all. However, they still lost an early wicket in Imrul Kayes, who spooned a catch to covers trying to check a drive off Zaheer. Substitute fielder Dinesh Karthik had pulled off a brilliant diving catch. Prior to that, Imrul Kayes was shattered by a bouncer from the same bowler which stayed low to crash onto his arm and then onto his helmet grill.

After Kayes’ dismissal in the 5th over, it was all a Bangladesh show in the afternoon session and most part of the final one with Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique holding up firmly. Tamim Iqbal batted out with total freedom and it was his day getting away with a few mistakes but he would keep the scoreboard busy with some superb shots. Junaid Siddique, another left hander showed good patience to just hang in there and at the same time remind Tamim not to get carried away.

In the final 20 minutes or so, Dhoni decided to bring on pace at both ends and the ball did reverse swing. Zaheer Khan was lukcy to get the wicket of Junaid Siddique (55 from 144 balls with 5 fors) after the Umpire Billy Bowden gave a caught behind when it was only the ball moving away off the rough on the pitch. Junaid was nicely lured into a false drive though by the bowler witha full ball angling in but swinging away late. It was a bit of justice though for Zaheer as he had struck the pads of the same batsman a while back with a reversing inswinger but the Umpire playing it safely by not raising his finger.

Tamim Iqbal’s lovely knock came to an end when he was forced to edge a good length delivery angled into him around off but just swinging away late from Zaheer. Mohammad Ashraful along with Shahadat Hossain survived the next few minutes to make it 228 for 3. Zaheer has been the only wicket taker in this innings having bowled only 14 overs. Ishant looked good as well but has already received two official warnings for running on the danger area.

Should Bangladesh go on to add another 300 or so, there will be slight pressure on the Indians with not just Dravid, Yuvraj but also Tendulkar looking doubtful to bat in the second innings. Tendulkar had jarred his shoulder while trying to catch a top edged sweep from Tamim (when on 138) off Sehwag and had to leave the field after that.