The Sunday Mail
Indore. — Bangladesh were bowled out for 213 in the final session in Indore after their gamble to bat first after winning the toss backfired badly against the Indian pace attack.
Shami’s fellow fast bowlers Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma shared three wickets between them after India declared their first innings on 493 for six, with a lead of 343 runs.
“The captain gave me the freedom to bowl the way I wanted and it went well,” Shami said after the game. “Having Umesh and Ishant alongside me is a plus.”
Bangladesh batsman Mushfiqur Rahim offered some resistance, hitting 64 after Rohit Sharma dropped him on four off Shami.
Mushfiqur, who scored 43 in Bangladesh’s 150 in the first innings, finally became one of three wickets taken by offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
Ashwin, who reached 250 wickets in home tests in the first innings, got last man Ebadat Hossain for one to spark India’s victory celebrations.
India were dominant with the bat and ball against Bangladesh.
Opening batsman Mayank Agarwal played a key part in the win with his 243 — his second double century in four tests — as India amassed 407 runs on the second day.
The bowlers kept up the pressure when Bangladesh started their second innings.
Yadav drew first blood, taking Imrul Kayes for six on a ball that curved into the left-hander and rattled the leg stump.
Ishant Sharma got Shadman Islam for six in the next over. Shami then trapped skipper Mominul Haque lbw for seven.
Mominul was given not out by the on-field umpire but India skipper Virat Kohli successfully reviewed the decision with replays showing the ball would have hit leg stump.
Shami, who also took three wickets in the first innings, took Mohammad Mithun for 18.
Bangladesh skipper Mominul said the batting of Mushfiqur and bowling of Abu Jayed had been the only “positives” in the disappointing defeat.
Abu Jayed stood out with his four wickets in the Indian innings but got little support from his teammates.
The second and final match is a day-night clash, with India hosting its first-ever pink-ball test at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens from 22 November.
After seeing his side demolished by India, Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque said the players have tough lessons to learn from the world’s top test side if they are to compete on an international level.
Mominul took a calculated risk in choosing to bat first after winning the toss and did not reckon with India’s pace attack, led by Mohammed Shami, who took three wickets yesterday.
“They can learn everything from the India attack. Working with the old ball or new ball,” a heartbroken Mominul told reporters.
Pace man Abu Jayed was a rare bright spot in the Bangladesh bowling attack, taking four wickets, including Indian captain Virat Kohli for a duck. Mominul acknowledged that his side’s batting had also let them down. Only Mushfiqur Rahim, who scored 43 and 64, posed a threat to the Indian bowlers.
“The (Indian) bowling attack was challenging. It would have been easier for the rest of the batting line-up if the openers played out the first 15 to 20 overs.”
Mominul added that it was possible Mushfiqur could be promoted up the order from his current number-five position for the second game starting Friday, which will be the first day-night test in India.
Mominul said the result could only get better.
“I don’t think we will face more swing than we did today,” Mominul declared. “I think today was good practice. The pink ball will be challenging, but we must take it positively.”
The opening match was Bangladesh’s first in the new world Test Championship currently led by India. Mominul feels the tournament can only help Bangladesh’s standing.
“We have to play a lot of test matches. You can see in the last seven months we have played only two tests,” said Mominul, who insisted Bangladsh would have been left on the test sidelines without the championship that guarantees a minimum number of games.-AFP
