Pacers engineer another innings win for India
INDORE: India annihilated Bangladesh inside three days for a resounding inning and 130 run-victory in the first Test, riding on one of the most hostile fast bowling performances in recent times.
Having bowled Bangladesh out for 150 in the first innings, India bundled them out for 213 in the second essay after declaring their first innings on their overnight score of 493 for six.
The victory also gave India 60 points, and they strengthened their position in the World Test Championship table with 300 points in their kitty.
The thrashing also completed a hat-trick of innings wins for them, having beaten South Africa in the second and third Test in the previous series.
The gulf was huge between the two teams and it could only get worse for Bangladesh from here onwards as the Indian pace attack, in the upcoming Day/ Night Test with the pink ball, is expected to cause more damage to their batsmen’s psyche.
It was a game where Mohammed Shami (match haul of 7 wickets), Umesh Yadav (4 wickets overall) and Ishant Sharma (3 wickets) scared the hell out of an opposition that showed little stomach for a fight, save senior player Mushfiqur Rahim (64, 150 balls, 7x4), who delayed the inevitable.
Ravichandran Ashwin (match haul of 5 wickets) complemented the pacers, chipping in with wickets at regular intervals. Bangladesh may have lost a lot of Test matches but the one in Indore has left them with scars that will remain for a long time. An international team looked frightened in the face of relentless hostility.
There were no angry gestures or over-the-top celebrations but the scorching pace, mesmerising swing, and the red cherry rearing at the throat from good length.
It created a spectacle and Bangladesh didn’t have the wherewithal to handle it.
In the post-lunch session, Shami just bowled one fuller on the off-stump channel. The ball held its line and all the veteran did was to offer a training session slip catch to Rohit Sharma.
Amid the ruins, Rahim, after getting reprieve in the first session, showed his will to fight that was missing in younger colleague Liton Das (35 off 39 balls), who showed T20 skills when something else was required.