Despite captain Shakib Al Hasan’s counterattacking innings and opener Zakir Hasan’s first century, Bangladesh was crushed by India by 188 runs in the first match of the two-match Test series at the Zahur Ahmed Chwodhury Stadium in this city today.
After Bangladesh started the fifth and final day with 272-6, still needing 241 runs to win, the defeat appeared quite likely. However, they failed to offer the bare minimum of resistance and were bowled out for 324 runs on the last day, chasing a massive goal of 513 runs, in less than an hour.
Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of Bangladesh, launched a counterattack by scoring 84 off 108, blasting six fours and six sixes, and leading his team to 52 runs on the final day.
Kuldeep Yadav, an Indian wrist spinner, followed up his 5-40 with a 3-73 in the second innings to record his best match total of 8-113 in his career. In fact, Kuldeep’s bowling eliminated Bangladesh from the match.
In just the second over of the day, bowler Mohammed Siraj (1-67) dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 13 and dashed Bangladesh’s hopes of mounting a serious challenge to India.
Shakib came up with whirlwind batting after Mehidy was removed because he knew that the easiest way to survive on the last day’s pitch was to assault. To amuse the little fans in the ground, he however charged spinners to hit them some sixes. He attempted a sweep shot but was unsuccessful in connecting with Kuldeep’s ball and was bowled out.
India only needed two overs after Shakib was dismissed to end Bangladesh’s innings. After taking out Taijul Islam (4) and Ebadot Hossain for a duck, left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who finished with 4-77, put an end to the innings.
Earlier, opener Zakir Hasan hit a maiden ton before being out on exact 100 and Najmul Hossain scored 67 in this innings for Bangladesh. Zakir became the fourth Bangladeshi batter and first opener to hit centuries on debut and also became the only second opener in Test cricket’s 145-year history to score a century on debut in the fourth innings.
The duo put up a 124-run partnership for the opening stand to give Bangladesh a ray of hope but India remained calm and that brought up a fruitful result for them at the end.
India racked up 404 in its first innings before being out all and then took a 254-run lead, dismissing Bangladesh for 150.
Thanks to a maiden century of opener Shubhman Gill (110) and the 19th ton of Cheteshwar Pujara (102 not out) who also made 90 in the first innings, India declared second innings at 258-2 to set Bangladesh a record chase of 513 runs.
Bangladesh who never successfully chased down a target more than 215 runs, finally crumbled in pressure to taste their 101st defeat in their 135th Test match.
The second and series-ending Test starts form December 22 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
