In a breathtaking display of cricketing prowess, India surged ahead towards a decisive victory on the fifth morning of the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. The hosts needed just under three hours to dismantle the visiting side, leaving themselves a minimal target of 95 runs to secure the match. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja were the heroes with the ball for India, each picking up three vital wickets during the session, but credit for Bangladesh’s rapid downfall also goes to some questionable shot choices from their batsmen.
The day began with Bangladesh facing a slender deficit of 26 runs. Their primary objective was clear: stabilize their innings by building a lead without losing wickets. However, the visitors’ plans were quickly derailed. Mominul Haque, who had shone in the first innings with a century, fell victim to a cleverly orchestrated trap by Rohit Sharma’s field placements. Understanding Mominul’s inclination to sweep shots, India positioned a leg slip. As Mominul attempted a hard sweep, he found himself caught at leg slip by KL Rahul from an Ashwin delivery, delivering an early blow to Bangladesh’s hopes.
However, briefly, Bangladesh’s spirits were lifted by Shadman Islam, who exhibited positive intent at the crease. Timing his shots impeccably, Shadman unfurled a series of boundaries, demonstrating solid defensive techniques and capitalizing on any loose deliveries offered by the Indian bowlers. Joining forces with skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, who seemed composed and comfortable, the pair formed what seemed like a resilient half-century partnership, providing a glimmer of hope for the visitors.
But this apparent calm was merely the prelude to a coming storm. The introduction of Ravindra Jadeja into the bowling attack would prove to be the turning tide. Jadeja’s effect was immediate and devastating. In his very first over, he puzzled Shanto with one of the most reckless strokes of the day. Attempting a risky reverse sweep, Shanto’s poor execution led to his stumps being uprooted, laying the foundation for Bangladesh’s imminent collapse.
.
Jadeja, now with the breakthrough, opened the floodgates – and what followed was a startling display of bowling. Litton Das was edged behind, unable to handle the turn, while the experienced Shakib Al Hasan offered an easy return catch. Meanwhile, Shadman, after laboriously reaching a well-deserved half-century, succumbed to a lapse in concentration against the relentless bowling of Akash Deep. In no time, Bangladesh found themselves reeling at a perilous 94/7 after starting at 91/3.
Jasprit Bumrah, the lynchpin of India’s pace attack, wasted little time producing his lethal deliveries against the fragile Bangladesh tail. Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam were sent back in quick succession, showcasing Bumrah’s signature precision and skill. Despite the bravery shown by Mushfiqur Rahim, who attempted to shepherd the innings while protecting last man Khaled Ahmed, reality rapidly set in.
At the stroke of the scheduled lunch break, and with one wicket remaining, an extension of a maximum of thirty minutes was granted. Rahim managed some scoring, working cleverly with his partner to chip away at the runs. Still, his valiant effort met an untimely demise courtesy of another brilliant Bumrah delivery. Unleashing an exceptional off-cutter right on the cusp of the session’s end, Bumrah enticed Rahim into an errant drive, bringing about his demise.
It was a fitting conclusion to a session dominated by inspired Indian bowling, placing them firmly in command to finalize their impending victory. The match briefly appeared poised for drama, yet swiftly swung to unwavering Indian command. This remarkable performance fortified India’s standing, affirming their prowess with decisive authority in Kanpur.
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.