FATULLAH, June 13:
The one-off cricket Test between India and Bangladesh seems to be meandering towards a tame draw after incessant rain halted the visiting spinners, who reduced the hosts to 111/3 in the only session of play that was possible on the fourth day here.
Only 30.1 overs could be squeezed in the opening session when bad light stopped play with Imrul Kayes (59 batting) and Shakib Al Hasan (0 batting) at the crease.
Earlier, India declared their first innings on the overnight total of 462/6. Bangladesh still trail by 351 runs but look set to sneak away with a draw thanks to weather gods.
With more than 200 overs lost due to frequent rain interruptions in the previous three days, the Virat Kohli-led visitors came out all guns blazing and picked up the first opposition wicket quite early only to see a bit of resistance from the second-wicket batting pair.
Facing the pace-spin combination of Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-30), opener Tamim Iqbal (19) became Bangladesh’s highest Test run-getter but soon fell to the guile of the wily off-spinner.
Surpassing former batsman Habibul Bashar (3026 in 50 Tests) to manage 3039 runs in 40 matches, Tamim was stumped while trying to counter Ashwin’s spin. The left-hander’s toe was on the line and the third umpire pushed the red button to send him back to the pavillion.
Mominul (30) joined Kayes (59 not out) at the crease and the duo steadied the Bangladeshi batting with an 81-run stand.
Kayes though was dropped on 10 when Shikhar Dhawan failed to latch on to the flying cherry on his left side as a dejected Umesh Yadav looked on.
Even a brief rain interruption in the 13th over did not spoil the concentration of the left-handed duo as Virat Kohli continued to juggle his regular bowling options. (PTI)
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