Team India continue to dominate the 1st test against Bangladesh in Chattogram. Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill were the headline acts on day 3 as both batsmen achieved their long-awaited centuries in the longest format after Kuldeep Yadav took a 5-wicket haul on his return to test cricket.
After reducing the hosts to 133 for 8 on day 2, India quickly wrapped up the Bangladeshi innings in the morning session, picking up the remaining two wickets for 17 runs. Kuldeep had Ebadot Hossain caught down leg to complete his five-fer, while Mehidy Hasan, who was looking for some quick runs, was stumped off Axar Patel.
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With a lead of over 250, the bigger question was whether India would enforce the follow-on but stand-in skipper Rahul decided against it. The Indian openers Gill and Rahul were very watchful early on in the innings as India went to lunch on 36/0.
Rahul once again couldn’t convert his start as he fell for the short-ball ploy of Khaled Ahmed for 23. Gill, who survived some close DRS calls, upped the ante in the post-lunch session, pulling successfully against Khaled and employing the sweep against the spinners.
Bangladesh were left with just 3 frontline bowlers after Ebadot and Shakib were not fit to bowl. India scored 104 runs in the 2nd session as they made their intentions clear. Gill got to his maiden century in test match cricket by lofting Mehidy over mid-on for a boundary and was later caught at mid-wicket attempting another big hit.
Pujara, who was slow off the blocks, accelerated even more in the post-tea session. He was particularly positive against the spinners, using his feet and using the sweep shot to good effect.
He got to his second fifty off just 43 balls and completed his ton off 130 deliveries, his fastest in test cricket. India declared at 259/2, setting a target of 513, to have a crack at the Bangladeshi top order before the end of the day’s play. But the home side’s openers thwarted India’s bowlers to limit further damage.
Check India vs Bangladesh Full Scorecard here
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