Twitter Reactions: Mehidy Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan make early inroads as India look jittery chasing 145

The second day of the second Test between India and Bangladesh ended when the hosts dished out India on 314 and started the proceedings with the bat for the second innings. India did not have much of a lead at the end of the first innings, but the bowlers, especially the spinners, did really well to keep Bangladesh in check on the third day.

Bangladesh openers Zakir Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto opened the proceedings on the third day, but Ravichandran Ashwin got India a very early breakthrough. After a failed review on the preceding ball, a successful review confirmed India their first wicket of the day as Shanto walked back to the pavilion. An absolute jaffa from Siraj then led to the dismissal of Mominul Haque as India got in the driver’s seat.

Zakir and Shakib Al Hasan then steadied the innings, but the latter fell prey to Jaydev Unadkat’s pace. Before closing the first session, Bangladesh lost their fourth wicket as Axar Patel picked up his first of the innings and dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals and Bangladesh lost momentum in the game.

It was then the 98-ball 73-run knock by Litton Das which helped Bangladesh get a lead over India. Das played a brilliant knock, despite losing partners at the other end. Axar Patel went on to claim three wickets in the innings, and took the last man Khaled Ahmed down, which helped India put curtains on Bangladesh’s batting.

Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj picked up two wickets each, whereas Umesh Yadav and Unadkat managed to end with one wicket each. Bangladesh were dismissed for 231 runs in the second innings as the hosts posted a target of 145 runs for India to win off the final innings, with more than two days in hand.

India’s start to the final innings was scary, as skipper Shakib Al Hasan dismissed Indian captain KL Rahul cheaply, for 2(7). Mehidy Hasan Miraz picking up Cheteshwar Pujara’s wicket after a brilliant stumping effort from Nurul Hasan added to India’s misery as the visitors lost two quick wickets while chasing a low total.

With just a few overs remaining before the end of the day’s play, India decided to send Axar Patel up the order as the all-rounder joined Shubman Gill. After notching up a century in the first game, Gill was dismissed in a poor fashion in the first innings. He could not make an impact in the second innings either and was dismissed for 7(35) after another wonderful stumping by Nurul Hasan just before stumps on the third day.

Virat Kohli joined Axar Patel but Mehidy Hasan caught the big fish and dismissed Kohli for 1(22) and trouble loomed over India. After performing brilliantly with the ball, Indian batters failed to reciprocate as India lost four wickets within few minutes, and had to send the nightwatchman Jaydev Unadkat to bat before the end of the day’s play at 45/4.

The two would start India’s innings tomorrow, on the fourth day, as the visitors would be eyeing a 2-0 series win with 100 runs more required. The hosts, on the other hand, would want to pick up more wickets to try and put an end to India’s celebrations.

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