Bangladesh on verge of innings loss

Bangladesh v India
Second Test, Day 3
Chittagong, Bangladesh

Mohammad Ashraful struck 158 not out in the Bangladesh first innings, the highest individual score by the country's batsman in their four-year Test history. However, it was not enough to help Bangladesh salvage some pride, as after failing to avoid follow-on by a narrow margin, their batsmen succumbed in the second innings, so as to put the visitors on verge of an innings victory.

Bangladesh ended the day's play at 118 for nine wickets, after being bowled out earlier in the day for 333 in the first innings, falling seven runs short of avoiding the follow-on. The score was put up almost solely on the efforts of Ashraful, whose innings contained 24 boundaries and three sixes.

Anil Kumble picked up four wickets in the hosts' first innings, to be the pick of the Indian bowlers. Aftab Ahmed, in only his second Test, shared a 115-run fifth wicket partnership with Ashraful, to defy the Indian bowlers a break through after Habibul Bashar's wicket in the first session.

Sourav Ganguly's decision to enforce the follow-on worked in the favour of brining an early conclusion to the match, as the Bangladesh batsmen looked out of sorts against some tight bowling by Irfan Pathan, which brought him five wickets.

Bangladesh, at one point, were reduced to 84 for 9. However, a series of five boundaries boundaries by number 11 Talha Jubair, most against Sachin Tendulkar's part-time spin in the final stages of the day, helped the hosts to 118, before both batsmen accepted the bad light offered.

India (1st innings) 540 all out
G Gambhir 139, R Dravid 160, SC Ganguly 88, Mashrafe Mortaza 3/60, Mohammah Rafique 4/156
Bangladesh (1st innings) 333 all out
Mohammad Ashraful 158*, Aftab Ahmed 43, A Kumble 4/55
Bangladesh (2nd innings) 118 for 9
IK Pathan 5/32

Bangladesh trail by 89 runs with one second innings wicket in hand.

Posted by Sudeep