By Amlan Chakraborty
KOLKATA, India (Reuters) – India captain Virat Kohli embellished the pink-ball test with a sparkling century before his quick bowlers reduced Bangladesh to 152-6 in their second innings as the hosts closed in on a 2-0 series sweep on day two of the second and final Test yesterday.
After India declared their first innings on 347-9 in their maiden day-night Test, Bangladesh risked losing the match inside two days after slumping spectacularly to 14-4 in the seventh over.
But Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, who made 39 before a hamstring injury forced him to retire hurt, batted resolutely to force a third day at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.
Bangladesh, dismissed for 106 in the first innings, still trail their hosts by 89 runs.
Ishant Sharma, who claimed 5-22 in the first innings, was the wrecker-in-chief in the second as well, returning 4-39 with an impeccable display of seam bowling.
Mushfiqur will resume on 59 today, hoping to continue the fight though India look set to seal their 12th consecutive home series victory.
India’s top order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara was not surprised how his pace bowling teammates continued to torment Bangladesh.
“Our aim was very simple – to bowl to them in the right areas and try and make them play as many balls as possible,” said Pujara.
“We know the ball was going to swing and it was important to control the swing and be accurate with our line and length.”
Earlier, Kohli smashed a magnificent 136 and added 99 runs with Ajinkya Rahane who fell for a fluent 51.
The India captain cover-drove Ebadot Hossain to reach 99 and, with the crowd chanting his name, took two off spinner Taijul Islam to bring up his 27th Test century, and 20th as captain.
He removed his helmet to soak up the applause, then continued the celebrations shortly afterwards by hitting Abu Jayed for four consecutive boundaries.
Ebadot dismissed Kohli when Taijul moved from deep square leg and hurled himself into the air to take a stunning catch.
Kohli hit 18 fours in his 194-ball vigil, outlasting the entire Bangladesh team who had folded in 30.3 overs in their first innings.
Armed with the heavily-lacquered ball, Ishant then mowed down the top order to put Bangladesh on the mat.
His second-innings victims included Mominul Haque, who made a nightmarish debut as Bangladesh’s Test captain, being dismissed for a duck in both innings.
Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah, however, refused to throw in the towel, displaying stomach for the fight that was lacking among their teammates.
“We’re still 90-odd runs behind, tomorrow we’ll try to avoid an innings defeat and make them bat again,” Bangladesh quick Al-Amin Hossain said.
Bangladesh have had to call two concussion substitutes after Liton Das and Nayeem Hasan sustained nasty blows to the helmet in the first innings.
BANGLADESH 1st innings 106
INDIA 1st innings o/n 174 for 3
Mayank Agarwal c Mehidy Hasan b Al-Amin Hossain 14
Rohit Sharma lbw Ebadat Hossain 21
Cheteshwar Pujara c Shadman Islam b Ebadat Hossain 55
Virat Kohli c Taijul Islam b Ebadat Hossain 136
Ajinkya Rahane c Ebadat Hossain b Taijul Islam 51
Ravindra Jadeja b Abu Jayed 12
Wriddhiman Saha not out 17
Ravichandran Ashwin lbw Al-Amin Hossain 9
Umesh Yadav c Shadman Islam b Abu Jayed 0
Ishant Sharma lbw Al-Amin Hossain 0
Mohammed Shami not out 10
Extras: (b-12, lb-2, w-8) 22
Total: (nine wkts decl., 89.4 overs) 347
Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-43, 3-137, 4-236, 5-289, 6-308, 7-329, 8-330, 9-331.
Bowling: Al-Amin Hossain 22.4-3-85-3 (w-1), Abu Jayed 21-6-77-2, Ebadat Hossain 21-3-91-3 (w-3), Taijul Islam 25-2-80-1.
BANGLADESH 2nd innings
Shadman Islam lbw Ishant Sharma 0
Imrul Kayes c Virat Kohli b Ishant Sharma 5
Mominul Haque c Wriddhiman Saha b Ishant Sharma 0
Mohammad Mithun c Mohammed Shami b Umesh Yadav 6
Mushfiqur Rahim not out 59
Mahmudullah, retired hurt 39
Mehidy Hasan c Virat Kohli b Ishant Sharma 15
Taijul Islam c Ajinkya Rahane b Umesh Yadav 10
Extras: (b-8, lb-5, w-5) 18
Total: (six wkts, 32.3 overs) 152
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 3-9, 4-13, 5-133, 6-152.
Bowling: Inshant Sharma 9-1-39- 4, Umesh Yadav 10.3-0-40-2, Mohammed Shami 8-0-42-0 (w-1), Ravichandran Ashwin 5-0-18-0.
