Tigers sniff a chance at history
Not everything had gone their way in the ongoing Test in Mirpur but at the end of third day yesterday, Bangladesh now find themselves with an unlikely scenario of snatching the game away from India.
"Of course it's possible to win. If we can pick one or two wickets early in the morning, it's possible," Liton Das, who struck an impactful 73, said at the press conference following the day's play yesterday.
An opportunity has indeed arrived and Liton believed aggressive cricket was the way to go to have any chance of getting a historic result which would see them beat India in Tests for the first time.
"They are the No. 1 or 2 Test side in the world, but we will try to win tomorrow, play aggressive cricket. It is our goal," he added.
The early morning period proved to be difficult to handle for batters with India's first innings lead still holding sway.
Najmul Hossain Shanto fell prey to Ravichandran Ashwin before Mohammed Siraj put in a good spell and was rewarded with Mominul Haque's outside edge and his wicket. Shakib Al Hasan was dismissed in identical fashion to the first innings and then Axar Patel got Mushfiqur Rahim trapped in front.
Conditions got a little better for batting in the second session and Liton went about a counter-attacking approach. India, guilty of a few dropped chances, saw Liton put on partnerships with Nurul Hasan Sohan and Taskin Ahmed, who both managed 31.
Liton found the right approach in a wicket where run-scoring often proved difficult but getting an unplayable delivery was the order of the day. His innings of 73, laced with seven fours, was ended by one such delivery from Siraj and Bangladesh managed 231 all out with a 144-run lead.
By the end of day three, Bangladesh's 23-over spell with the ball, had left Virat Kohli fuming following his dismissal and the India side on the back foot with four top-order batters back in the hut as the visitors still require a further 100 runs to win.
Shakib's first ball appeal and review, despite being denied a wicket, set the tone in Bangladesh's defence. Shakib got one to turn away for KL Rahul just enough for the opener to nick it to Sohan behind the stumps. The ball was turning quickly with a bit of skid available due to conditions and Miraz troubled India to no end.
He brought Cheteshwar Pujara down the track and beat him with turn, and Nurul's sharp effort behind the stumps had caught the batter out of his crease. Miraz then got Subman Gill with a similar delivery, only it was the straighter one that beat Gill and, again, Nurul made no mistake in whipping the bails off.
Axar Patel got India rolling with a few shots but Kohli, having been bogged down for 21 deliveries, then inside-edged one that took some catching from Mominul. It appeared something was said to Kohli during the Bangladesh celebrations. Kohli fumed at Shakib while something was being explained to him by the Bangladesh skipper.
The Tigers did not mind much. They got India on the ropes under setting sun, now they need to do the same under the morning sun even as the threat of Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant loom large with only 100 to defend.
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