In a commanding display of cricket prowess, India surged towards victory on the fifth morning of the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. The visiting side struggled immensely, losing their last eight wickets within a single session that extended for almost three hours. This collapse left India with a modest target of just 95 runs to secure a win in the Test match, placing them firmly in the driver’s seat.
The standout performers for India on the final day were the formidable duo of Jasprit Bumrah, who claimed figures of 3-17, and Ravindra Jadeja, who took 3-50. While they showcased exceptional skill and discipline with the ball, their efforts were notably supported by questionable shot selections from the Bangladeshi batsmen. Only Shadman Islam, who contributed a battling 50, and Mushfiqur Rahim, with a determined 37, showed some resistance. However, the rest of the batting lineup appeared disjointed and unable to mount any significant challenge.
Bangladesh began the day trailing by a mere 26 runs, and their immediate objective was to overcome this deficit without losing any wickets. Things, however, didn’t pan out as planned. Mominul Haque, who had been outstanding in the first innings with a century, fell into a well-conceived trap set by Indian captain Rohit Sharma and his team. Aware of Mominul’s penchant for the sweep shot, the Indians positioned a leg slip, effectively cutting off his favored scoring option. As Mominul attempted the hard sweep, the ball soared from the bat’s face, and KL Rahul snatched a sharp catch at leg slip off Ravichandran Ashwin’s delivery, setting the tone for Bangladesh’s tumultuous day.
Despite this early setback, Bangladesh sought to rebuild through Shadman Islam’s confident stroke play, which included several exquisite boundaries driven by sharp timing. Shadman appeared in excellent touch, demonstrating solid defensive skills and capitalizing on any wayward deliveries. Alongside him, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto seemed comfortable, and the duo cobbled together a partnership surpassing fifty runs, which somewhat steadied the shaky innings.
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Yet, this calm was merely the precursor to a brewing storm. Ravindra Jadeja, previously unused, entered the fray and struck gold in his very first over. Shanto inexplicably opted for a reverse sweep—a risk-laden choice—leading to his downfall as he was bowled around his legs. This dismissal sparked a chain reaction that spelled disaster for Bangladesh.
Jadeja capitalized on the opening, inducing Litton Das into edging a fierce delivery to the wicketkeeper and accepting an easy catch from Shakib Al Hasan’s mistimed shot. Following these breakthroughs, Shadman Islam too succumbed to pressure post his half-century, dismissing a careless shot that proved costly against a relentless Akash Deep, pushing Bangladesh from a relatively stable 91/3 to a dire 94/7.
Jasprit Bumrah then took over, swiftly dealing with the tailenders, removing Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam in rapid succession. Mushfiqur Rahim put up a valiant effort to stave off the inevitable by monopolizing the strike alongside last man Khaled Ahmed. However, with the ninth wicket tumbling just as lunch approached, the session was extended by an additional 30 minutes to accommodate for potential closure on the conclusion of the innings.
In those precious added minutes, Rahim eked out some runs, nearing the end of the session seemingly intact. Yet, it all unravelled with the session’s final delivery. Bumrah, known for his cutting deliveries, unleashed a classic off-cutter which gripped unexpectedly and dismantled Rahim’s stumps—an exquisite dismissal exemplifying India’s bowling brilliance.
With Bangladesh all out for 146, the Indian team now sits poised to clinch the match with a small target in sight, demonstrating once more their cricketing acumen and strategic superiority on the field.
Brief scores attain significance in the context of the contest: Bangladesh managed 233 and 146 runs—thanks to Shadman Islam’s fifty and Mushfiqur Rahim’s determination—with Indian bowlers, Bumrah (3-17) and Jadeja (3-34), instrumental in orchestrating the batting collapse. India declared at 285/9 with notable contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal (72) and KL Rahul (68), as Mehidy Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan claimed four wickets each, yielding a slender lead of 94 runs before tapering Bangladesh’s fightback efforts.