Meltdown

India’s pacers rout Bangla bats for innings win

Indore, November 16

India annihilated Bangladesh inside three days for a resounding innings and 130 run-victory in the first Test, with the home fast bowlers delivering a hostile performance.

The quick victory was on the predicted lines. India declared their first innings on the overnight 493/6, with a lead of 343, and then bundled Bangladesh out for 213 in the second essay. The victory gave India 60 points in the World Test Championship, strengthening their position on the top of the table with 300 points.

The gulf between the two teams was massive, and it can only get worse for Bangladesh as the Indian pace attack is likely to be even more lethal with the pink ball in the upcoming Day/Night Test in Kolkata.

15 for pace

Mohammed Shami (match haul of 7 wickets), Umesh Yadav (4) and Ishant Sharma (3) picked up 14 wickets in all, psyching out an opposition that showed little stomach for a fight, except for senior player Mushfiqur Rahim (64 off 150 balls). For a change, spin stalwart Ravichandran Ashwin played a supporting role.

Bangladesh have lost a lot of Test matches, but this defeat has left them with scars that may last a long time — the visitors seemed visibly frightened in the face of relentless hostility by India’s pacemen. There were no angry gestures or over-the-top celebrations by the pace trio, but they did have scorching pace, mesmerising swing and had the ball rearing to the throat from good length. Bangladesh’s batsmen didn’t have the wherewithal to handle this.

The best part about the Indian attack is that its intensity is as much in the third session as it is early morning. Mehidy Hasan Miraj (38 off 55 balls), despite sharing a 59-run stand with Rahim, being bounced out by Umesh was a case in point. It was a ‘heavy ball’ in cricketing parlance, and it grew big on Miraj, hitting him on his chest and then tickling the stumps.

Early knocks

Left-handing opener Imrul Kayes (6) got a perfect inswinger Yadav in the first session, the ball uprooting the leg-stump. Kayes had given up on the fight from the start and was visibly nervous. Ishant got one to nip back to his opening partner Shadman Islam (6) from a length, and the batsman couldn’t bring his bat down in time.

Bangladesh’s best bet, Mominul Haque (7), was jittery from the start and was trapped LBW by Shami with one that angled in — he was given out by the third umpire after a DRS review.

Shami then hurried Mohammed Mithun (18) with a bouncer and the mistimed pull was easily taken at midwicket by Mayank Agarwal. The team’s oldest player, the 33-year-old Mahmudullah Riyad, showed technical as well as temperamental frailties. He perished when he poked at a Shami ball outside off and edged it to the slips. At 72/5, it was all over bar the shouting. Amidst the ruins, Rahim, dropped on 4 by Rohit off Shami, put up a fight. Liton Das, smashing 35 off 39 balls, showed off T20 skills when Bangladesh actually needed good technique and temperament. — PTI