Bangladesh v India, 1st Test - Day 5, Highlights: Ashwin-Harbhajan Show Stands Out in Rain-Marred Draw
The one-off Test between Bangladesh and India ended in a draw. India won the toss, batted superbly to post 462/6 before declaring their innings. Bangladesh, in reply, fell short by 206 runs in the first innings in front of a classy show of spin bowling from Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh. Catch all the highlights here.
Finally, the Fatullah Test match between Bangladesh and India comes to an end and as expected, it ended in a draw. India won the toss, batted superbly to post 462/6 before declaring their innings. Bangladesh, in reply, fell short by 206 runs in the first innings in front of a classy show of spin bowling from Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh.
Ashwin grabbed a five-wicket haul while Harbhajan, in his comeback Test, got three victims. Following on, Bangladesh went unscratched for the fifteen overs.
Catch all the highlights here. (SCORECARD | FIXTURES)
(All times in IST)
4:00 PM: That's it! The teams decide to shake hands after 15 overs into the last session. It was expected with the light fading quickly. That was a long drawn Test match with the rain being the most consistent performer.
3:43 PM: Bangladesh openers have handled the opening burst pretty well.
3:36 PM: Spin and pace from two ends. The light is fading, flood lights are taking over. Kayes and Tamim looking to hang in there.
3:25 PM: (Bangladesh 2nd Innings, Follow on) Cloudy skies, fast bowler charging in, floodlights on - this is Test cricket. Umesh Yadav is steaming in. A few more close-in fielders would be fun.
3:10 PM: That's it! BANGLADESH ALL OUT for 256. Trail by 206 runs and India have enforced the follow-on. 30 overs for Bangladesh to see out, this can actually work for India.
3:00 PM: WICKET! Shahid goes for the big one and easy catch to long on. A third for Harbhajan Singh.
2:50 PM: WICKET! Litton Das falls for 44 as Ashwin gets a five-wicket haul. Turn and bounce from Ashwin and Das couldn't keep it down.
2:46 PM: As the innings has progressed Litton Das has looked better and better - sound defence, decisive footwork and can give the ball a tonk. He's on 44 now, can he get to a fifty on debut?
2:40 PM: DROPPED! Harbhajan could have had his third there. Litton Das gets the inside edge and the ball flies to leg-slip. Rohit Sharma dives, the ball hits his wrist and a chance missed, should have been taken.
2:35 PM: Back after tea. Bangladesh are in a spot of bother even though Litton Das is batting superbly. Ashwin, on the other hand, is bowling an outstanding spell.
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2:15 PM: WICKET! Partnership broken and it's that man Ashwin again! Just at the stroke of tea, Ashwin sends Shuvagata 'Hom' (9). Lunging forward to a full delivery gets a fine tickle to Rohit Sharma at leg-slip. Bangladesh 219/7, trail by 243 runs.
2:11 PM: That was a fast over from Umesh Yadav, really fast. He didn't get all of them on the correct line but the ones he did hit the bat hard and Litton Das and Hom looked a touch uncomfortable.
2:06 PM: Litton Das is chancing his arm and his chances are coming off. He sweeps Ashwin and then Ashwin goes through his defences but the ball goes through the keeper and the stumps.
1:56 PM: 200 up for Bangladesh. Litton Das is lighting up Fatullah here. Taking Ashwin on - goes straight over long off and then slams him to the mid wicket boundary. The new Bangladesh keeper looks really solid.
1:43 PM: Bangladesh are struggling here. They look lost in front of Harbhajan's guile and Aaron's pace. Litton Das and Hom need to hold on here because they still nee 81 runs to avoid the follow-on.
1:36 PM: BOWLED! Sarkar (37) chops the ball on his stumps. Aaron gets his first wicket. BAN 176/6
1:25 PM: STUMPED! Imrul Kayes (72) dances down the track and is completely foxed by Harbhajan Singh. The Turbanator saw him coming and shortened the length. Easy stumping for Saha. Bangladesh 172/5.
1:10 PM: Varun Aaron with the ball now. Steady over from the Indian pacer as Kayes fights on for Bangladesh.
1:02 PM: Imrul Kayes takes on Harbhajan Singh and punches his through cover point for a delightful boundary. The ball raced off the outfield. Harbhajan Singh makes a good comeback in the over.
12:57 PM: Two FOURs in the over from Ashwin. Soumya Sarkar has had enough - first pulls him past square leg and them slams him over mid-on. He follows it up with a solid block in front of his pads. Bangladesh still trail by 313 runs.
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12:46 PM: Harbhajan Singh come on now. Flat over, except the last one that really took off! But is there a slight change in the approach to the wicket? Harbhajan Singh seems to have cut down on the big 'flying' hand movement.
Imrul Kayes' 64* is the 2nd highest by a Bangladeshi opener vs India. The best: 151 - Tamim Iqbal at Mirpur in January 2010 #IndvsBan
- Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 14, 2015
12:38 PM: "Ohs" and "ahs" as Ashwin is giving it a serious rip! Soumya Sarkar is all at sea in front of this tall offie from Tamil Nadu. He's bowling it slow, giving it a lot of air and spinning a web around these Bangla batsmen.
12:27 PM: WICKET! Ashwin sends Shakib (9) back. Tries to cut, too close to the body, not the correct length as well.Edges it to Saha. Bangladesh 121/4
12:23 PM: Not a very good start for Ishant Sharma - goes for a boundary, bowls a no-ball and not threatening Shakib at all.
12:15 PM: Team India in a huddle and Ashwin is going to finish his over. Nice and sunny at the Fatullah now. Maiden over, Kayes negotiates it safely.
12:05 PM: Finally, the sun is out and so are the players. After a few rounds of football, the Indian team players are warming up.
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11:10 AM: Here's the latest from Fatullah - If there's no further rain, play will start at 12:45 Local time.
11:00 AM: Latest update -
It's bright and the pitch is bare. We await the impending inspection and the verdict thereafter. #BanvsInd pic.twitter.com/CxZ5EOw4tF
- BCCI (@BCCI) June 14, 2015
10:30 AM: Latest update - no play before lunch. Umpires to inspect ground at 11:30
There will be an inspection at 11:30 AM Local time and there will be no play before Lunch. #BanvsInd
- BCCI (@BCCI) June 14, 2015
The rain has stopped. The fourth umpire is out there for an inspection. Shortly we should have some kind of update. #BanvsInd
- BCCI (@BCCI) June 14, 2015
9:45 AM: Latest update - it is still raining at the stadium. The chances of the game beginning are starting to dim.
9:00 AM: Rain, rain and more rains - day 5 welcomes us to pretty much similar scenes with dark clouds hovering around the stadium and covers on the pitch. It's drizzling pretty steadily at Fatullah and by the looks of it, play isn't going to anytime soon. So, as we have for the last four days, let's hope we get at least some cricket.
This is how the ground looks at the moment. Not very pretty. #BanvsInd pic.twitter.com/fIUnJWJFPA
- BCCI (@BCCI) June 14, 2015
Good morning South Africa. Wish you well when you come here next month! pic.twitter.com/xwYlWrmITG
- Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 14, 2015
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Rain, rain go away - has been the theme song for the one-off Test match between India and Bangladesh at Fatullah. While India have been able to declare their first innings at 462/6, Bangladesh are yet to finish their first innings.
On Day 4, only one session was play was possible in which Bangladesh scored 111 runs but lost three wickets. While the Indian quicks failed to make an impression, the spinning duo of Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin got into their stride before rain invaded to rescue the Bangla batsmen. Ashwin, who took the new ball, picked up two wickets, while Harbhajan Singh made his Test comeback with the wicket of Mominul Haque.
Bangladesh still trail by a massive 351 runs but in one day, India have to put in a herculean effort to get them out twice. Plus, there is always the rain threat looming.
A draw suits Bangladesh perfectly but India, even after putting up a substantial score, would gain precious little with a stalemate.