When the third day’s play of the rain-marred solitary Test between Bangladesh and India finally resumed yesterday in Fatullah, the visitors were surely praying for one thing; no more rain interruptions.
Resuming on 239 without loss, the Indian openers made their way to the sun-kissed Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, looking to put one leg on the accelerator with only two days remaining to the Test match.
The tourists however, would have been mistaken if they had thought rain was done playing its final trick. Yesterday, therefore, was yet another day of frustration as only 47.3 overs among the allotted 90 were possible with India ending the day on 462 for the loss of six wickets. There were four rain interruptions during the third day while play was called off half an hour earlier than schedule.
If the third day belonged to anyone it was the home side. The Tigers bowlers scalped six wickets conceding 223 runs with maverick all-rounder Shakib al Hasan leading the way by taking four wickets.
The Indian batsmen were always looking to accelerate their scoring rate and while doing so, they created a number of chances. Bangladesh did not let those opportunities slip by as Shakib, complimented by young leg-spinner Jubair Hossain, bagged wickets at regular intervals. In the process, Shakib became the first cricketer, home or overseas, to pick up 100 Test wickets in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh bowlers, chiefly Shakib and Jubair, bagged the wickets in two batches. First, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were dismissed in quick succession while it was Murali Vijay, Wriddhiman Saha and Ajinkya Rahane’s turn to depart in the second. With the exception of Saha, all the other batsmen were dismissed while playing an attacking shot. And, between the fall of all the quick wickets, Vijay and Rahane added 114 runs for the fourth wicket to register the highest partnership of the third day.
Shakib initiated the first blow by breaking the Dhawan-Vijay partnership. Dhawan spooned a catch towards Shakib for 173, the opening stand dislodged after a 283-run association. En route to their 283-run partnership, Dhawan and Vijay crossed 1000 runs as an opening pair.
From the other end, Vijay continued with his painstaking knock before being finally trapped in front by Shakib for 150. The right-hander from Chennai had a great time with the bat in the last 12 months with his sixth hundred taking him past 1000 Test runs.
In the meantime, Rohit was clean bowled by Shakib for six while Jubair accounted for the quick wickets of Kohli (14) and Saha (six).
Rahane went for his shots during his 103-ball knock, and succeeded, striking 14 boundaries but fell just two runs short of fourth Test hundred as his timber were shattered by Shakib.
