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DHAKA, Sept 30, 2024 (BSS) - Bangladesh's Mominul Haque struck a brilliant century, but India played in aggressive fashion to put them on top in the second and final cricket Test at Green Park in Kanpur today.
The fourth day of the match saw action and India, seeking a result, showed the intent with sheer aggressive manner.
After bowling out Bangladesh for 233, they played in T20 style to declare their first innings at 285-9, scoring runs at a staggering 8.22 per over. They thereafter reduced Bangladesh to 26-2 at stumps, making them the only team from either side to win the Test.
The day, however, saw an action-packed day indeed. A total of 18 wickets fell, 12 sixes, plenty of fours and some record-breaking incidents made it an intriguing day Test cricket saw in the recent past.
Only 35 overs were possible on Day 1 before Day 2 and Day 2 were called off due to rain and a wet outfield.
Resuming the day at 107-3, Bangladesh were able to add 126 in a one and a half session with Mominul Haque alone making 67 of them.
It was Mominul's only second Test ton outside the country as he was not out on 107. He raised his overall 13th century, the highest by any Bangladeshi batter, sweeping Ravichandran Ashwin past square leg for a boundary off 172 balls.
Mominul played some confident shots, especially against the spinners to keep the side afloat. But the other batters found it tough to deal with the Indian bowlers who bowled with venom as India were seeking an unlikely result.
Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah gave the side's first breakthrough of the day, rattling the stump of Mushfiqur Rahim who was out for 11 after adding five runs to his overnight total.
His new ball partner Mohammed Siraj then struck, with the wicket of Liton Das (13) who was victimized by a stunning catch from Rohit Sharma at mid-off.
Shakib Al Hasan, potentially playing his last match in the Bangladesh jersey, struck two boundaries to briefly bring back his heydays but Ashwin, in his first over of the day, had him caught by Siraj at mid-off for 9.
Mominul was unfazed by the wickets tumbling around him as he took the Indian bowlers with precision to keep the scoreboard moving.
He, alongside Miraz, saw off the morning session without any fuss-but Bangladesh lost the rest of the four wickets for 28 runs in the post-lunch session.
Bumrah and Siraj wrecked havoc in the lower order, with the former ending up 3-50.
Siraj, Ashwin and Akash Deep Singh took two wickets apiece. Ravindra Jadeja picked up one, which helped him complete his 300-wicket haul in Test cricket.
India made their intent of brining out a result very clear with captain Rohit Sharma making a mockery of Bangladesh bowling with a six-hitting spree. His young partner Yashasvi Jaiswal also complemented him with an aggressive manner, but as time passed, Jaiswal became more dangerous than his senior partner.
Such was the brutal attack that India went past the 50-run mark in the Test innings of just 19 balls, leaving Bangladesh in a state of embarrassment.
After breaking the record of fastest 50 in a Test innings, India blazed to the 100 runs mark in 10.1 overs, and it was also the fastest hundred in the longest format of cricket.
What made their record standout was that India completed their fifty inside the first 20 balls of the innings, which is the fastest in men's international cricket across all formats.
Jaiswal, however, was the top-scorer for India with 51 balls-71, smashing 12 fours and two sides, while KL Rahul blasted 68 off 43 with seven fours and two sixes. Virat Kohli added 47 off 35 with five fours and one six while Shubman Gill contributed 36.
All the Indian batters, sans Jadeja, who made 8 off 13, scored runs over 100 strike rate. Rohit Sharma though was out for 23 off 11 with one four and three sixes, he showed the way.
Shakib Al Hasan was the best bowler for Bangladesh, claiming 4-78. Miraz also took 4-41 but three of his wickets were from the lower order.
Ashwin then took two wickets, dismissing Zakir Hasan and nightwatchman Hasan Mahmud, leaving Bangladesh still trailing by 26 runs.
Shadman Islam, who was dropped by KL Rahul was batting on 7 with Mominul ys to open his account.
India lead the series 1-0 following its 280-run win in the first Test in Chennai.