Bangladesh face uphill task to save 1st Test

Chattogram, 16 Dec  - Bangladesh faced an uphill task to save the first Test after India set them an improbable target of 513, courtesy to centuries from opener Subhman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here today.

At the end of day three, Bangladesh navigated 12 overs successfully to reach 42-0 and weathered the deficit to 471 runs with Najmul Hossain Shanto batting on 25 and Zakir Hasan on 17.

Gill hit his maiden century and scored 110 from 152 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes while Pujara who missed the ton by 10 runs in the first innings, was not out on 102 to steer India to 258-2 before declaring the second innings.

Bangladesh never successfully chased down 300 runs target in Test cricket.

India racked up 404 in its first innings and then bowled Bangladesh out for 150, taking a 254 runs lead but they chose not to enforce follow-on.
 
Gill and captain KL Rahul gave the side a solid start in order to set a target out of Bangladesh's reach, adding 70 runs.

Pacer Khaled Ahmed had Rahul caught by Taijul Islam at fine leg with a short-pitched delivery on 23 to make the breakthrough.

But Gill and Pujara hardly faced any challenge from Bangladesh attack, without the service of the two vital bowlers in fast bowler Ebadot Hossain and Shakib Al Hasan due to their back pain.

Gill however brought up his maiden century off 147 balls, hitting off spinner Mehidy Hasan for a boundary through mid-on.

He was dismissed by the same bowler shortly after that, trying to pace the innings as India looked for quick runs.

Pujara who completed his half-century off 87 balls, took the anchor role and brought up the next fifty off just 43 balls as he raised his hundred off 130 balls with a boundary through mid-on from left-arm spinner Taijul Islam delivery.

His century which came after 52 innings, was his fastest among his 19 centuries.

India declared the innings straightway after his century with Virat Kohli on 19 at the other end.

Unlike the first innings, Bangladesh made a solid start as Najmul and Zakir punished the loose balls in disdain on a pitch that appeared to be good for batting.
 
Earlier in the morning session, India took little time to remove two Bangladeshi batters early in the morning with Kuldeep Yadav registering his career-best 5-40.

After Bangladesh resumed on 133-8, Kuldeep had Ebadot Hossain stumped for 17 runs to complete his third five-for in test cricket.

Axar Patel (1-10) then wrapped up Bangladesh's innings, dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 25, also via stumping.