Chennai. Bangladesh managed to take a lead over India by dismissing Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul in quick succession as the hosts reached 176/6 in 48 overs at tea on the first day of the first Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday. With conditions still good for bowling, it meant Bangladesh took a further lead to victory within a session, despite Jaiswal’s fifth Test half-century and an unbeaten 21 from Ravichandran Ashwin, who added an unbeaten 32 off 34 balls for the seventh wicket with Ravindra Jadeja (seven not out).
Three overs after lunch, Pant started off by hitting Mahmood for a boundary through point. But on the very next ball, Pant once again tried to cut the delivery outside off-stump but this time, he got the timing late and got a slight under-edge straight to the keeper for 39 off 52 balls. Jaiswal remained comfortable at the crease, especially helped by Mahmood spraying a bit too much on leg, and he reached his fifty off 95 balls. But Nahid Rana ended his innings as Jaiswal’s thick outside edge off the pacer found a nice opening delivery to first slip. Jaiswal made 56 off 118 balls.
Rahul could not keep the leg glance down in the next over and was caught at short leg off Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 16 off 52 balls. The local boy Ashwin got a good welcome from the sparse crowd at Chepauk and did not disappoint with his attractive punch and pull, while also hitting one between the slips to get his third boundary. India will be hoping that Ashwin and Jadeja adopt a defensive approach to get a competitive score.
Brief Score: India 176/6 in 48 overs against Bangladesh (Yashasvi Jaiswal 56, Rishabh Pant 39; Hasan Mahmud 4-35).