Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh struggled to avert defeat with 103 runs for the loss of three wickets in the second innings against India on the fourth day of the lone Test match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.
India need seven wickets to win, while Bangladesh have to score 356 runs to win on the fifth day which is nearly an impossible task.
India declared their first innings making a formidable 687 for the loss of six wickets on the second day (Friday).
In reply, Bangladesh made 322 for the loss of six wickets in the first innings before the bails were drawn for the third day.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahedi Hasan Miraz resumed their first innings with the over-night score of 81 and 51 runs respectively.
But, Miraz was bowled out by Bhuvneshwar Kumar before adding any run when the tourists’ score was 322 for the loss of seven wickets.
Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim alone fought back making a marvellous 127 runs. He hit 16 fours and two sixes in his 262-ball innings before he was caught behind by Wriddhiman Saha off Ravichandran Ashwin when Bangladesh’s first innings was dismissed for 388. Mushfiqur Rahim reached his fifth Test hundred using 235 balls with 13 fours and a six.
Then India declared their second innings scoring 159 for the loss of four wickets and set a target of 459 runs to win for Bangladesh.
Cheteshwar Pujara remained unbeaten with 54. He hit six fours and a six in his 58-ball innings. It was Pujara’s 12th half century in Test cricket.
Earlier, Pacer Taskin Ahmed dismissed opener Murali Vijay for seven and the other opener Lokesh Rahul for 10 runs.
Later, Shakib Al Hasan removed Virat Kohli for 38 and picked up the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane for 28.
Kohli hit two fours and a six in his 40-ball innings, while Rahane struck two fours and a sixer in his 35-ball knock.
Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten with 16.
Taskin and Shakib got two wickets each for 43 and 50 runs respectively.
Later, Bangladesh had an unhappy start as the opener Tamim Iqbal (3) was caught at the gully by Virat Kohli off Ravichandran Ashwin when Bangladesh’s score was just 11.
Then opener Soumya Sarkar and Mominul Haque repaired the damage contributing together 60 runs for the second wicket partnership before Sarkar was caught at the slip by Ajinkya Rahane off Ravindra Jadeja when Bangladesh’s total was 71 for the loss of two wickets.
Soumya hit a polished 42 from 66 balls featuring seven fours.
After dismissal of Soumya, Mominul Haque (27) could stay at the crease for a short period as he was caught at the slip by Rahane off Ashwin when Bangladesh’s score was 75 for the loss of three wickets.
Mahmudullah Riyad and Shakib Al Hasan put on together 28 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket partnership before the two umpires pocketed the bails for the fourth day.
Shakib Al Hasan was on 21, while Riyad was on nine.
Ashwin captured two wickets at the cost of 34 runs, while Jadeja took one wicket for 27 runs.
