Hasan aims to strike early tomorrow to restrict India under 400
|| CF DESK ||
India struggled to handle Hasan Mahmud as the Bangladesh pacer dismantled their top order, reducing the hosts to 34/3 early on. Hasan’s sharp bowling claimed Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli, with Gill dismissed for a duck and Rohit and Kohli scoring just six runs each.
Later, Hasan also broke the resistance of Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, dismissing Pant for 39, leaving India at 144/6.
However, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took control from there, dominating the rest of the day without losing any more wickets.
Ashwin remained not out on 102* from 112 balls, marking his century, while Jadeja was close to his own hundred, unbeaten on 86 from 117 deliveries.
Despite India gaining the upper hand, Tiger star performer of the day Hasan remained optimistic. Hasan, who picked up four wickets, expressed his goal of bowling India out before they reach 400 runs.
"If we can bowl them out before 400, it will be good. The wicket has become easier to bat on, but we're trying to apply pressure and will continue to do so tomorrow, In Sha Allah," Hasan said after day’s play.
"I think our bowling could have been a bit more economical and controlled. The momentum was there, but if we can take early wickets tomorrow, we can swing it back in our favor and stop them short of 400" he added.
At stumps on day one, India finished at 339/6, thanks to an unbeaten 195-run partnership between Ashwin and Jadeja.
"We always have a plan. We were relaxed in the dressing room when watching," India opener Yashasvi told reporters.
"I think initially the ball was moving and seaming a bit and the wicket was damp. We took our time. In the last session we scored quite well and are in a good position at the moment," Jaiswal added, who scored fifty today.