INDORE,- Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz put up a massive resistance against a pumped-up India bowlers to help Bangladesh reach 191-6 at tea on the third day of the first Test at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Saturday.
The visitors still need 152 runs to make India batting second time in the match but despite their duo’s fight it looked all unlikely.
At the second interval of the day, Mushfiqur Rahim was batting on 53, while Miraz was on 38 after sharing 56 runs for the undefeated seventh wicket partnership. Bangladesh was bowled out for 150 in its first innings.
Mushfiqur Rahim, who survived on 4 after Rohit Sharma put down a straightforward catch at first slip off Mohammed Shami’s bowling held together the innings despite the wickets tumbling around him.
India declared the first innings on overnight 493-6, taking a 343-run leads, after which their bowlers made regular inroads to leave Bangladesh at bay.
Umesh Yadav struck first to dismiss Imrul Kayes, who was out on 6 after trying to play an expensive drive, that looked utterly wretched.
His fellow opener Shadman Islam also was out on identical 6, when he failed to use his feet well against an express delivery of Ishant Sharma.
First change bowler Mohammed Shami worsened Bangladesh’s situation by dismissing captain Mominul Haque on 7 via leg-before. The umpire though turned the down the appeal, India’s captain Virat Kohli reviewed the decision successfully.
Shami then had Mithun caught by Mayank Agarwal for 18 and left Bangladesh at 44-4, indicating to wrap up the things quickly.
In the post-lunch session, Shami once again tormented the batsmen and got the reward with the wicket of Mahmudullah Riyad for 15.
Liton Das then joined Mushfiqur to find the gaps regularly while the latter remained restrained amid sustained pressure.
Indian spinners then came to the scene with Ravichandran Ashwin striking immediately to get the better of Liton who made 35 off 29 with six fours.
As the things looked ominous, Mushfiqur and Miraz saw off the session further to ensure that they won’t be packed up before the last session. Shami returned figures of 3-25, while Ishant, Yadav and Ashwin picked up one wicket apiece so far.
