Picture : BCCI/ Twitter
Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav wrapped up Bangladesh’s tail to give India an emphatic 188-run win in the first test of the two-match series at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram.
India moved to the third spot in the ICC World Test Championship table with this win as Bangladesh succumbed to the brilliant blowing of India’s spinners losing their four wickets within an hour of the first session of the fifth day.
he spin duo of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav accounted for seven wickets to dismantle the hosts. Axar scalped four wickets while Kuldeep bagged three to take his tally to eight for the match.
Bangladesh resumed their inning at 272/6 with Mehidy Hasan Miraz (9) and Shakin Al Hasan (40) at the crease for the hosts. Things were off to a positive start for Bangladesh as Mehidy drove Mohammed Siraj through the covers in the first over of the day while Shakib slog-swept Axar Patel for a six from the opposite end.
However, the hosts were bowed out for 324 runs as the Indian bowlers took just 11.2 overs to wrap up the second inning. Mehidy sliced one to backward point after failing to swat Siraj on the up. Shakib attacked the Indian spinners and smashed a barrage of boundaries before being sent out for 84 by Kuldeep Yadav.
The chinaman removed Ebadot Hossain in his next over while Axar castled Taijul Islam to give India a 1-0 lead in the series, bolstering their chances of a place in the World Test Championship final.
Earlier, India struck three more times in the final session of the fourth day of the match, leaving the hosts struggling at 272/6 at the end of the day’s play, with 241 more runs required to win with only four wickets in hand.
At the end of the play, Shakib al Hasan (40*) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (9*) were unbeaten for Bangladesh.
Kuldeep Yadav was declared the player of the match for his eight wickets and his valuable knock of 40 runs in the first inning.
Injured Rohit Sharma’s availability for the second Test against Bangladesh starting December 22 in Mirpur will be known in a day or two, stand-in India captain KL Rahul said on Sunday.
Rohit, who led India in two ODIs in the preceding series, was ruled out of the first Test, which India won by 188 runs on Sunday under Rahul’s captaincy.
Rohit had gone back to India after hurting his left thumb while fielding in the second ODI against Bangladesh in Mirpur on December 7. Abhimanyu Easwaran has come in as his replacement.
