India takes control at Chepauk, extends lead to 308 runs

|| CF DESK ||

India in command of the first Test, despite losing key wickets at the close of Day 2, posted 81-3 to extend their lead to 308 against Bangladesh in Chennai.

India suffered another top-order batting collapse as Rishab Pant and Shubhman Gill were holding the fort and were on 12 and 33 runs respectively.

The visitors were skittled out to 149 runs with a deficit of 227 runs in response to India’s first innings total of 374. 

Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowling attack taking four-fer while others took two wickets each to account for the remainder of wickets albeit Ravichandran Ashwin.

Earlier in the day, Indian bowlers ripped through Bangladesh's batting line-up and lost wickets at a regular intervals, starting with opener Shadman Islam who got castled by Jasprit Bumrah in the very first over.

Skipper Shanto and Zakir Hasan tried to show resistance, but their efforts were in vain when Akash Deep ran through the wickets to get Zakir and Mominul Haque in consecutive deliveries.

Siraj break-in to send off Shanto quick after the Lunch break followed by Mushfiqur Rahim, who edged against Bumrah and was caught by KL Rahul in the slips, leaving the scoreboard 40-5.

Then Shakib al Hasan and Litton Das added a 51-run partnership to steady their innings until Jadeja broke the stand by dismissing Litton. He tossed the ball up outside the off-stump, Litton tried to sweep but got a top edge. Litton departed on 22 runs.

Shakib's promising knock came to an end on 32 runs when he gave away his wicket in quick succession after Litton's dismissal, in an attempt of an unnecessary reverse sweep which got a bottom edge and lobbed up to the keeper.

Miraz made a valuable contribution of 27 runs while his teammates fell one by one that only reduced the deficit. 

India resumed the day on 339-6. Pacer Taskin Ahmed quickly broke the partnership by getting overnight batter Ravindra Jadeja out for 86 runs.

Then Akash Deep contributed a quick 17 runs before being dismissed, and soon after, Taskin took Ravichandran Ashwin's wicket as well, catching him out.

Ashwin formed a 199-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja after being slumped to 144-6. The duo managed to lead a strong fight back against Bangladesh bowlers, especially Hasan, who had put India in a tough position early on and propelled India reach a total of 376 all out.

Ashwin received a warm standing ovation for his sixth Test century, scoring a magnificent 113 runs which included 10 fours and 2 sixes.

Hasan returned a figure of five wickets conceding 83 runs in 22.2 overs, marking his second five-wicket haul in just his fourth Test match.