Iyer, Ashwin to the rescue as India down BD in thriller to sweep Test series

Agencies Published December 26, 2022

INDIAN batter Shreyas Iyer plays a shot as Bangladesh wicket-keeper Nurul Hasan looks on during the second Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.—AFP

DHAKA: Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin held firm as India beat Bangladesh in a thrilling second Test on Sunday, dashing hopes in Dhaka of a first-ever win over their giant neighbours.

India needed just 145 to win the match and the series 2-0 but the visitors in the end won by only three wickets in a nail-biting morning’s play on day four at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Bangladesh overcame India in the preceding 50-over series but have never beaten them in a Test. India had won 10 of the teams’ previous 12 Tests, including five victories by an innings.

India won the first Test comfortably by 188 runs in Chittagong and were widely expected to romp home in the second game, cementing their position in second place in the ICC World Test Championship.

India bowled Bangladesh out on Saturday for a sub-par 231 but the home side’s spinners Mehidy Hasan and captain Shakib Al Hasan then reduced the visitors to 45-4 at stumps with 100 still to chase.

Shakib started the slide with the wicket of captain KL Rahul for two and then Mehidy claimed Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli — all for single-digit scores.

Bangladesh then reduced India to 74-7 when play resumed on Sunday but Shreyas (29 not out) and Ashwin (42 not out) put on 71 runs in an unbroken eighth-wicket stand to steer India home.

Mehidy was the stand-out bowler for Bangladesh in the second innings, finishing with 5-63, which included two wickets in the morning.

Bangladesh dominated play in the opening hour as Shakib dismissed nightwatchman Jaydev Unadkat, who hit a six in the opening over but fell in the next after making 13.

Mehidy then trapped danger man Rishabh Pant leg before for nine before he bowled unbeaten overnight batsman Axar Patel for 34 runs.

Ashwin was dropped by Mominul Haque on one at forward short leg before he grew in confidence, with Iyer looking solid against spin at the other end.

After his three fours in two overs, Bangladesh were forced to finally bring pacers into the attack but to no avail.

Ashwin — named player of the match — took India close with a six after Mehidy changed his bowling end and wrapped up the contest with two more boundaries.

“[I’m] not going to lie, there was a lot of tension in the dressing room. It was a tough wicket to bat on, they put us under pressure in both innings,” said Rahul, who captained in place of injured Rohit Sharma.

The stand-in Indian skipper praised Iyer for his defiant batting.

“The way he batted today was phenomenal. He made it look really easy,” Rahul told reporters.

Shakib rued the missed opportunities by his team.

“It is slightly disappointing, as other teams don’t miss the chances that we are missing,” said Shakib. “Those made the difference. We could have bowled them out for 250 instead of 314 [in the first innings]. There was a chance in the second innings [too] ... maybe it happens due to lack of concentration or fitness.

“Everyone contributed. We always knew that we had a chance... Very good Test cricket, that’s what the crowds love to see,” added Shakib.

“Both teams were really good. Credit goes to Shreyas and Ashwin, they absorbed the pressure well and built a partnership.”

Rock-solid Pujara was named player-of-the-series, with the Sussex star making 222 runs in the series.

SCOREBOARD

BANGLADESH (1st Innings) 227 (M. Haque 84; U. Yadav 4-25, R. Ashwin 4-71)

INDIA (1st Innings) 314 (R. Pant 93, S. Iyer 87; T. Islam 4-74, S. Al Hasan 4-79)

BANGLADESH (2nd Innings) 231 (L. Das 73, Z. Hasan 51; A. Patel 3-68)

INDIA (2nd Innings, 45-4 overnight):

S. Gill st Nurul b Mehidy 7

K.L. Rahul c Nurul b Shakib 2

C. Pujara st Nurul b Mehidy 6

A. Patel b Mehidy 34