India Totter At 45-4 As Bangladesh Spinners Get Into Action

Dhaka: Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, forced Indian batters to chase a small target of 145 runs on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the visitors ended an engaging third day’s play, tottering at 45 for 4 at the end of Saturday.

Having dominated for the better part of two and half days, Bangladesh’s lower middle-order, led by Litton Das (73 off 98 balls) and supported by Nurul Hasan Sohan (31 off 29 balls) and Taskin Ahmed (31 off 46 balls), counter-attacked to take their second innings score to 231, giving their bowlers something to defend.

KL Rahul (2), who had a horrendous game as a skipper as well as batter, would like to forget this game in a hurry while the stodgy Cheteshwar Pujara (6) suffered his downfall because of his anxiousness to negate any turn on offer.

Shubman Gill (7) had his worse day on the tour, increasing India’s worry.

In case of Rahul, he tentatively poked a Shakib (1/21 in 6 overs) delivery that turned enough to kiss the outside edge of his bat into the keeper’s gloves.

Pujara, for the second time, came out to play the delivery from Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3/12 in 8 overs) before it could turn. The ball hit his bat and pad before a crawling Nurul effected a smart stumping.

Axar Patel held his ground and stayed unbeaten on 26 off 54 and finished the day with a boundary. Along with him was night-watchman Jaydev Unadkat, who did well with the ball, but now has to perform with the bat.