Murali Vijay struck his sixth Test century, while Ajinkya Rahane fell agonizingly short of his hundred as India reached 462-6 after rain allowed only a little more than 47 overs on the third day three their one-off Test against Bangladesh yesterday.
Torrential rain had already washed away 34 overs on the first day one and the entire second day’s play and India lost six wickets in their bid for quick runs in two stop-start sessions before the entire third session was called off.
Ravichandran Ashwin (2) and Harbhajan Singh (7) were at the crease when rained forced the players off the ground, virtually killing the prospect of any result in the match.
Photo: AFP
After India resumed on 239-0, Shakib (four for 105) and leg-spinner Jubair Hossain (two for 113) took all six wickets between them as the visitors went for quick runs.
Shakib ended India’s 283-run opening stand by dismissing Shikhar Dhawan (173) and also claimed the wickets of Vijay (150), Rohit Sharma (6) and Rahane (98).
Vijay steered left-arm spinner Taijul Islam for a four to bring up his sixth Test century in the morning session, but his opening partner Dhawan could not better his personal Test best of 187.
The southpaw gave Shakib a soft return catch to depart after a 195-ball knock that included 23 fours.
Shakib struck again in his next over, uprooting the off-stump of Rohit, the only batsman with two 200-plus scores in one-day internationals who continues to struggle in Tests.
India skipper Virat Kohli (14) was slightly unlucky as his fluffed drive resulted in an inside-edge which hit his pad, before rolling onto the stumps to knock off the bail.
However, Vijay and Rahane had little problem negotiating the hosts’ limited bowling resources and they added 114 runs for the fourth wicket.
Vijay was trapped leg before wicket by Shakib after a 272-ball knock that included 12 fours and the only six of the India innings.
Rahane fell two runs short of what could have been his fourth Test century, playing aggressively and hitting Shakib for back-to-back fours, before losing his off-stump to the next ball while attempting a pull shot.
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