IND 339/6, Bangladesh Trail in 1st Test: India Dominate Day 2
India continued their dominant run in the first Test against Bangladesh, reaching a mammoth 339/6 at stumps on day 2 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. The visitors took a commanding lead of 253 runs, putting Bangladesh under immense pressure going into the third day.
A Dominant Day for India
The day began with India resuming at 126/3, looking to build on their strong first day showing. Cheteshwar Pujara and Shreyas Iyer continued the momentum, putting on a crucial 149-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Pujara (102) reached his 19th Test century, while Iyer (87) compiled a crucial knock that set up a dominant position for India.
Kuldeep Yadav (40*) then played a crucial role in the latter half of the innings, putting on a 74-run partnership with Rishabh Pant (93*). Pant, who came in with India at 265/5, looked aggressive and provided the perfect counterbalance to Kuldeep's measured innings.
Bangladesh Struggled to Contain India
Bangladesh's bowlers were unable to contain the Indian batters throughout the day. Taijul Islam was the pick of the bowlers with 2/81, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz took 2/86. However, the lack of any sustained pressure from the Bangladesh bowlers allowed India to dictate the pace of the game and accumulate a massive score.
Bangladesh's Batting Struggles
Bangladesh's batting struggles continued throughout the day. The hosts were bowled out for 86 in their first innings, giving India a massive 253-run lead. Mohammed Siraj (4/8) and Umesh Yadav (4/20) were the pick of the bowlers for India, who once again showcased their dominance in all three departments of the game.
Key Takeaways from Day 2
- India's batting depth was on full display, with Pujara, Iyer, Pant, and Kuldeep Yadav all contributing significant scores.
- Bangladesh's bowling attack struggled to create pressure and maintain control against the Indian batsmen.
- Bangladesh's batting collapse continued, with the team failing to put up any significant resistance against the Indian bowlers.
What to Expect on Day 3
India will look to declare their innings on day 3 and try to bowl out Bangladesh twice in the remaining two days. Bangladesh will need to show significant improvement in both their bowling and batting to avoid a heavy defeat.
The Indian bowlers, particularly Siraj and Umesh, will be looking to exploit the fragile Bangladesh batting line-up and create opportunities for early wickets. However, the hosts will need to find a way to regain some control over the match and create a chance to get back into the contest.
This Test match has turned out to be a one-sided affair so far, with India showcasing their dominance over Bangladesh. However, it is still early days, and Bangladesh has the potential to fight back and make the match more competitive in the remaining days.
