Bangladesh Fall Short As Ashwin-Jadeja Rescue India
India secured a comfortable 188-run victory over Bangladesh in the second Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday, extending their winning streak in the two-match series to 2-0.
The hosts, needing a mammoth 513 to win, were never in the hunt after being bowled out for 324 in their second innings. The Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja wreaked havoc, claiming a combined 11 wickets to dismantle the Bangladesh batting order.
Here's a breakdown of the key moments from the match:
Day 1: A Solid Start for India
India began their innings on a strong note, with Cheteshwar Pujara and Shreyas Iyer building a 149-run partnership. While Pujara fell for 90, Iyer continued his impressive form, registering a crucial century.
Day 2: Bangladesh Fight Back
Bangladesh, facing a deficit of 251, started their innings on a positive note with a 100-run stand between Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque. However, Indian spinners quickly brought Bangladesh back down to earth, taking wickets at regular intervals.
Day 3: Ashwin-Jadeja Dominate
The third day belonged to Ashwin and Jadeja, who bowled with incredible accuracy and variation. They choked the Bangladesh batsmen, restricting them to a low total.
Ashwin, the player of the match, claimed 5 wickets for 42 runs, while Jadeja finished with 6 wickets for 40 runs.
Day 4: India Seal the Series
Bangladesh resumed their innings at 278/6, still requiring 235 runs to win. The Indian spinners continued their relentless assault, dismissing the remaining batsmen with ease. India were left to celebrate a dominant series victory.
What Went Wrong for Bangladesh?
While Bangladesh's bowling was impressive, their batting was woefully inadequate. Their top order crumbled under pressure, unable to cope with the accuracy and guile of the Indian spinners.
The lack of a strong middle order also proved to be a major weakness.
What Next for India?
India have now established themselves as a dominant force in Test cricket. This victory further strengthens their position in the World Test Championship standings. The team will now look to carry this momentum into their next assignment, which is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting in February.
Key Takeaways:
- India's spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja proved their immense value to the team, once again delivering a match-winning performance.
- Bangladesh's batting frailties were exposed, highlighting the need for improvement in this area.
- India's dominance in the series reinforces their position as one of the best Test teams in the world.
This series win will be a significant boost for India's confidence as they look forward to the challenge of facing Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
