The Indian cricket team showcased a commanding display on the fifth morning of the second Test match against Bangladesh in Kanpur, taking significant strides towards clinching a well-deserved victory. In a dramatic and intense session that spanned close to three hours, Bangladesh’s remaining eight wickets tumbled swiftly, setting India a modest target of just 95 runs to secure the Test match victory. This collapse was orchestrated largely by the dynamic duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, who each claimed three pivotal wickets on the final day, but not without assistance from some perplexing shot choices made by the Bangladeshi batsmen.
Bangladesh began the day facing a narrow deficit of 26 runs, with their foremost aim being to establish a lead without losing any early wickets. However, the day’s proceedings started as an unfavorable witness to their aspirations. Mominul Haque, who had scored a century in the first innings, was dismissed early in the day due to a clever ploy crafted by Rohit Sharma and his team. Mominul, known for his sweeping prowess, fell victim to a plan that involved a strategically placed leg slip, leaving him with limited options. When he attempted the hard sweep, the bat’s face steered the ball directly to KL Rahul at leg slip, handing Ravichandran Ashwin the breakthrough wicket. This early setback jolted Bangladesh, yet they managed a brief recovery.
Shadman Islam showcased both resilience and aggression, compiling a swath of boundaries with precise timing. His defense was impeccable, and he was adept at leaving deliveries outside the off-stump, while capitalizing on any errant balls. Alongside him, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto appeared composed at the crease, forging a valuable half-century partnership to stabilize their innings. At this juncture, Bangladesh seemed momentarily secure, unaware of the looming tempest. Enter Ravindra Jadeja, who struck almost immediately after being introduced into the attack. Shanto attempted an ill-advised reverse sweep, only to be bowled around his legs, inaugurating a batting collapse.
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With Shanto’s dismissal, the doors flung open for an Indian onslaught. Jadeja soon had Litton Das edging to the wicketkeeper with a stunning delivery, followed by dismissing Shakib Al Hasan who offered a tame catch back to the bowler. The pressure mounted on Shadman as he lost his own wicket shortly after reaching his fifty, courtesy of a loose shot against the unyielding Akash Deep. From a relatively stable 91/3, Bangladesh found themselves cornered at 94/7, with India’s formidable bowling attack breathing fire upon them. Jasprit Bumrah further dismantled the lower order, rapidly claiming the scalps of Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam in quick succession.
Mushfiqur Rahim endeavored to resist and prolong the inevitable by judiciously managing the strike with the number eleven batsman, Khaled Ahmed. As the ninth wicket fell at the stroke of the scheduled lunch, the session was extended to a further 30 minutes maximum. Rahim chipped away at narrowing the deficit, almost ensuring Bangladesh would emerge from the session unscathed. However, his resistance was abruptly ended by a moment of brilliance from Bumrah. With the session’s final delivery, Bumrah unleashed his signature off-cutter, which gripped the surface and breached through Rahim’s defense as he attempted an ambitious drive, thus sealing the Bangladesh innings.
India now stands on the verge of completing their win, firmly positioned to finalize the Test match proceedings. With only a modest target to chase, India’s dominance in this Test has been evidenced through both masterful bowling and a strategic gameplay against a Bangladeshi side that faltered amidst pressure and poor decision-making.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 233 and 146 (Shadman Islam 50, Mushfiqur Rahim 37; Jasprit Bumrah 3-17, Ravindra Jadeja 3-34) lead India 285/9 decl. (Yashasvi Jaiswal 72, KL Rahul 68; Mehidy Hasan 4-41, Shakib Al Hasan 4-78) by 94 runs.