Tigers roar; bowlers scowl

Hyderabad: Bangladesh staged a magnificent recovery and completely dominated the final session of the third day of the one-off Test against India at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium here on Saturday.

The remarkable comeback was inspired by the dogged determination of Mushfiqur Rahim (81 not out) and Mehedi Hasan (51 not out), who together countered all the bowlers, who were used to achieve a breakthrough that never happened.

At close of play, the visitor’s were trailing by 365 runs against India’s first innings score of 687 for six declared.

Bangladesh went to stumps at a respectable 322 for six wickets in 104 overs, which was a matured effort considering that they were in dire straits at tea-break and the bowlers were calling the shots.

The unbroken 87-run partnership for the seventh wicket from 197 balls was a tribute to the application of the two batsmen, both of whom denied any upper hand to the bowlers who toiled but in vain.

The two came together when Ravindra Jadeja had accounted for Sabbir Rahman after the batsman had made 16 runs.

Earlier in the first two sessions of play, the host bowlers struck at regular intervals, after Bangladesh resumed play at 41 for the loss of one wicket, although they were clueless when Shakib Al Hasan (82) and Mushfiqur Rahim were meddling the ball nicely by playing them on merit.

They put on an invaluable 107 runs for the fifth wicket to deny the host any major advantage. In a way, the seventh wicket fight-back extended the good work done earlier.

Shakib and Rahman were dismissed in the post-lunch session and with Indian bowlers looking all charged up, it looked as if Bangladesh would be bundled out cheaply.

But Rahim steadied the ship and in the company of the young Miraz, he defied the Indian bowlers for the entire post-tea session and give his team a much-needed lift.

19-year-old Miraz showed maturity beyond his years to help his captain by playing risk free cricket, only hitting the loose deliveries and become the youngest Bangladesh batsman to hit a fifty in Tests.

However, with the wicket showing signs of wear out and the bowlers not getting any purchase, it remains to be seen how best the bowlers, particularly Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja can exploit the conditions.

The visiting team may still be in trouble given the gigantic task ahead but honours on the third day were shared by the two teams.

Brief scores: Bangladesh First Innings 322 for six wickets in104 overs (Shakib Al Hasan 82 (103 balls),Mahmudullah 28 (57 balls), Mushfiqur Rahim 81 not out (206 balls) Mehedi Hasan 51 not out (103balls), Umesh Yadav 2/72)vs India First innings 687-6 declared.