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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Shreyas Iyer, R Ashwin’s 8th wicket stand to help India record a three-wicket win over Bangladesh in the second test
Shreyas Iyer and R Ashwin stitched a defiant half-century stand as India huffed and puffed their way to a three-wicket win over a spirited Bangladesh on the fourth day of their second Test on Sunday.
Resuming the day at 45 for four, with the likes of skipper KL Rahul, opener Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, back in the hut, India found themselves in deep trouble with three quick wickets on a pitch that was turning and where the ball kept low.
India needed patience with the application. Axar Patel, though he could not finish the job, showed the template with his 69-ball 34 that included four fours.
Iyer and Ashwin, the last remaining pair with a credible record with the bat, carried on with the template as they accounted for the low bounce. Most importantly, as they settled in, they also accounted for the run rate at four an over to help India reach the target before lunch.
But the path to joy was full of potholes for India, as they were down in the dumps at 74 for seven. India was still 71 runs short off the target when Ashwin joined hands with Iyer.
Bangladesh smelt their opportunity, following Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s five-for, as they kept things simple with a basic stump-to-stump line. The strategy fetched them three quick wickets in the morning, but Iyer used patience to play out the spinners. Ashwin, on the other hand, used a low stance to combat the low bounce off Offie Mehidy.
Mehidy, despite every trick applied by the Indians, had his moment but was let down by his own teammate. Ashwin, then on 1 with India at 80, gloved the ball to the short leg. But Mominul Haque failed to grab the straightforward chance.
It is the opportunity that wily Ashwin needed as he made hosts Bangladesh pay for their mistakes – just like Bangladesh cashed in on India’s poor fielding. Ashwin, an offie who had five hundred under his name, picked up boundaries at regular intervals as he grew in confidence after reaching the double digits.
Ashwin remained unbeaten on 42, off 62 balls which included four fours and a six, while Iyer, understandably, dropped anchor and remained unbeaten on 46-ball 29 which included four fours.
