Bangladesh lost three wickets in the afternoon session as India piled on the pressure in their first of two-Test series against India at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Saturday.
At Tea on Day 4, Bangladesh reached 176 for three in 71 overs, still needing 337 runs to win.
Top-order batter Liton Das and debutant Zakir Hasan regrouped to forge a 42-run partnership after Bangladesh lost two wickets in quick succession soon after resuming play post-Lunch, but the former fell late in the afternoon session, making things even trickier for the hosts who are chasing a record 513-run target.
Liton failed to read a Kuldeep Yadav googly as his attempt to clear the infield only resulted in a simple catch to the fielder at mid-on. The right-handed batter had to walk off the ground at the stroke of Tea following a 59-ball 19.
Bangladesh went through the first session unscathed, with Zakir and Najmul Hossain Shanto stitching together the Tigers’ first-ever century opening stand in Tests against India.
However, soon after resuming play following the Lunch break, Shanto was dismissed by Umesh Yadav. The left-hander lost his patience and poked at a wide delivery, managing a thick edge that carried straight to Virat Kohli at first slip. Kohli, however, fumbled but wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was aware and made no mistake to complete the catch.
That wicket brought an end to a 124-run opening stand between Shanto and Zakir – the highest against India in Tests surpassing Imrul Kayes and Tamim Iqbal’s 53-run opening partnership 12 years ago at the same venue.
Inside three overs of losing Shanto, Bangladesh also lost Yasir Ali, who was bamboozled by an Axar Patel delivery. A good length delivery turned away from the right-hander just enough to miss the bat and strike the stumps.
For Bangladesh, Zakir remains unbeaten on 82 off 195 deliveries and would be hoping to get to his first Test century on his debut. At the other end is the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim, unbeaten on two off five deliveries.
