Bangla dashed

Indore, November 15

Opener Mayank Agarwal crushed an inadequate Bangladesh bowling attack to dust with a career-best 243 as India buried the visitors under a deluge of runs on the second day of the first Test here today.

Agarwal’s second Test double hundred formed the cornerstone of India’s 493/6, which gave India a lead of 343. On a day India got 407 runs, Agarwal was the MVP, having overshadowed stars such as Rohit Sharma (6), Cheteshwar Pujara (54), skipper Virat Kohli (0) and Ajinkya Rahane (86).

Agarwal’s partnerships of 91 for the second wicket with Pujara and 190 for the fourth wicket with Rahane were important in the context of setting the foundation of a big lead. After that, a whirlwind partnership of 123 in 23.5 overs with Ravindra Jadeja (60 not out) for the fifth wicket added insult to injury for Bangladesh. 

The match might get over on the third day itself if India declare tomorrow morning, if Bangladesh’s first-innings show is any indication.

Hungry Agarwal

Agarwal’s voracious appetite for runs, cultivated through solid performances at the domestic and India A level, is paying dividends. Exactly one year ago, Agarwal was in the fringe, scoring those “Daddy Hundreds”, yet losing out to the prodigious talent of Prithvi Shaw. However, Shaw got injured, lost a bit of focus, and then tested positive for a prohibited substance and was banned.

Agarwal made the most of the opportunity he got, and is showing with each innings that he is not going anywhere too soon. Having scored 76, 42 and 77 in his three innings on the tough tour of Australia in 2018-19, Agarwal earned the right to consolidate his place with heavy scoring at home. Today he completed his third 100 (and second double century) in the last 44-odd days.

It did help that Bangladesh got their bowling combination awfully wrong. On a fast pitch, the visitors fielded two specialist spinners — left-arm orthodox Taijul Islam (0/120 in 28 overs) and off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraj (1/115 in 27 overs). The spin duo was like lambs to slaughter as Agarwal went after them with all his might. All the eight sixes he hit came off the two spinners. He had the courage to reach 200 with a six, off Miraj, but fell trying to hit his ninth six.

Negativity

At one stage, Miraj completely lost confidence and started bowling round the wicket. The negative field placement for an off-spinner — a deep point and deep square-leg — showed Bangladesh’s leadership was frustrated and clueless.

Abu Jayed (4/108 in 25 overs) was the only bowler to show some heart, getting the wickets of Pujara, Kohli and Rahane. His new-ball partner Ebadot Hossain (1/115 in 31 overs) had neither the pace nor variation to trouble the batsmen. The Indian pacers had looked menacing on this pitch, but the Bangladesh pacers merely went through the motions. By the time Agarwal was out, the visitors were completely demoralised, and it seems the remainder of this match will be a mere formality. — PTI

---

Of Double tons and ducks

12 innings it took for Mayank Agarwal to score two double-centuries. Don Bradman did it in 13 innings. Vinod Kambli tops the list, having achieved it in just 5 innings

243 runs —Agarwal’s highest total in a Test innings. His previous best, 215, came last month against South Africa

407 runs made by India on Day 2. It is only the third time India have made more than 400 runs in one day 

16 th Indian batsman to cross the 4000-run mark in Tests — Ajinjya Rahane. His 86 took Rahane to 4061 off 104 innings

10 th time Virat Kohli (in pic) has been dismissed for a duck in Tests. It was only the third time at home, and the second time in 2019

---

I changed my mindset in 2016. Dropped my fear of failure. After that, I only got hungry and hungry. There have been times when I’ve not got runs, so when the going is good, just thinking of making it big...

We had lost two wickets, so idea was to be cautious, but not too cautious. The wicket has settled down compared to what it was yesterday. It got better to bat on as there is good bounce and good value for your shots. — Mayank Agarwal

---

Scoreboard

Bangladesh 1st inn  150
India 1st inn (Overnight 86/1)

M Agarwal c Jayed b Miraz 243
R Sharma c Das b Jayed 6
C Pujara c sub (Hassan) b Jayed 54
V Kohli lbw b Jayed 0
A Rahane c Taijul b Jayed 86
R Jadeja not out 60
W Saha b Ebadat 12
U Yadav not out 25
Extras: (lb 1, nb 3, w 3) 7
Total: (For 6 wkts, 114 overs) 493
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-105, 3-119, 4-309, 5-432, 6-454

Bowling

Ebadat Hossain 31-5-115-1
Abu Jayed 25-3-108-4
Taijul Islam 28-4-120-0
Mehidy Hasan Miraz 27-0-125-1
Mahmudullah 3-0-24-0