India records more Test wins than losses for first time
Ashwin scalps six wickets, India trump Bangladesh by 280 runs
PTI
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Maintaining a clean slate against the Asian neighbours, India now lead the two-match series 1-0.PHOTO:PTI
Chennai, 22 Sept
Veteran
off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's mastery over his craft, underlined by a
six-wicket haul, proved too immense for Bangladesh as India cantered to a
massive 280-run victory in the first Test with five sessions to spare, here on
Sunday.
Maintaining
a clean slate against the Asian neighbours, India now lead the two-match series
1-0.
Starting
from their overnight 158 for four, Bangladesh were bundled out for 234 in their
second innings as Ashwin scythed through their line-up (6/88).
Ravindra
Jadeja supported him with a three-wicket haul (3/58).
Skipper
Najmul Hossain Shanto waged a lone battle for the visitors with a sparkling 82
(127b, 8x4, 3x6), but there was hardly any meaningful support for him from his
colleagues.
The day,
however, began on a bright note for the Bangladeshis with Shanto and Shakib
Al-Hasan (25) extending their fifth-wicket stand to 48 runs, resisting the
Indian bowlers in the first hour.
Mohammed
Siraj was the standout bowler for India during this phase as he worked up good
pace and hit fine lines, but luck was not in his favour as edges eluded him or
fell short of fielders.
It left the
pacer a frustrated man, evidenced in his constant tirade against Shanto, who
remained unruffled.
Shakib, who
played a lovely front foot pull off Siraj for a boundary, also received a
reprieve as Rishabh Pant missed a stumping chance off Jadeja when the batter
was on 17.
At the
first drinks break of the day, Bangladesh were 194 for four and they might have
hoped to further stretch the home side.
However,
the introduction of Ashwin immediately after the resumption of play changed the
complexion of the proceedings.
There was
nothing much on the surface for the spinners but Ashwin, who possesses a
scientist's acumen, does not need such generosity from the deck or conditions.
The Chennai
man put into use his ability to find acute angles from around the wicket to
left-handers to optimum effect against Shakib.
Ashwin
pushed the ball a bit deep and it hit the handle of Shakib’s bat as he
attempted a forward defence, and the resultant edge went into the eager hands
of Yashasvi Jaiswal at backward short leg.
Soon, the
star off-spinner completed his 37th five-wicket haul, equalling Australian
legend Shane Warne, nipping the stay of Mehidy Hasan Miraz (8), who lobbed a
catch to Jadeja at long-on.
In the
process, Ashwin also went past New Zealand legend Richard Hadlee’s five-wicket
haul tally – 36.
It was also
the fourth time the veteran all-rounder took five-wicket or more in a Test
match alongside a hundred.
Jadeja, the
long-time second fiddle to Ashwin, too had his own moments as he scalped the
wickets of Shanto and Litton Das, who edged the left-arm spinner to Rohit
Sharma at first slip.
However,
Shanto’s batting will give a speck of hope for Bangladesh ahead of the next
match for the visitors.
While the
wickets were on a constant tumble at the other end, Shanto batted calmly and
with purpose.
The
left-hander swept, reverse swept and cut spinners and pacers to collect his
runs from all corners of Chepauk.
But the
task was way beyond such a one-man show on this day. Given his cavalier methods
at the crease, the dismissal was inevitable and it came in the 59th over.
Shanto
tried to hoist Jadeja out of the park, but the shot lacked power and timing,
and Jasprit Bumrah comfortably settled under the ball near mid-wicket.
The
dismissal also ended Bangladesh's hopes to last at least beyond the first
session, and now they will have to think of ways to regroup ahead of the second
Test at Kanpur, beginning September 27.-PTI
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