Opener Shikhar Dhawan has smashed a scintillating unbeaten 150 on his return to the side as India keep charging relentlessly against Bangladesh on rain-marred first day of the one-off Test in Fatullah.
The tourists were 239 without losing a wicket at close of play at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium on Wednesday.
Murali Vijay (89) continued his solid run of form with his 11th Test fifty.
India won the toss and chose to bat before heavy rain held up play for about four hours, allowing only 56 overs in the day.
The duo posted India’s highest opening stand against Bangladesh going past Dinesh Karthik and Wasim Jaffer’s unbeaten 175 in 2007.
The openers gave India a fluent start with Dhawan aggressive at one end and Vijay more focussed on holding the other.
With India on a sturdy platform for a massive total, there may be more bad news for the hosts, should the pitch begin to crumble to allow the tourists’ spinners the perfect platform.
The hosts fielded four spinners and only one seamer. Their bowling attack seemed insipid that missed both strategy and execution on a track that lacked bounce.
The track revealed itself in the second over of the day when medium pacer Soumya Sarkar struck Dhawan in front but the umpire adjudged him not out as he thought it would sail over.
But ironically, in the next over the lack of bounce was clear as Dhawan was lucky when he got a thick edge off pacer Mohammad Shahid that did not carry to the keeper.
Dhawan raced to his fifty before the first drinks break off only 47 deliveries.
Bangladesh had another chance moments before the rain break when Dhawan flicked spinner Taijul Islam for a catch at short midwicket.
Shuvagata Hom Chowdhury got both his hands under it with a dive but spilled it in the end to hand the batsman a life on 73.
Lunch was taken early after heavy rain halted play with 25 minutes to go in the first session with India on 107 for no loss in 23.3 overs.
Although Bangladesh used seven bowlers, they made no impact with only some inconsequential lbw appeals after play resumed at 3:30pm local time.
The left-hander went on to score his third Test century off 101 deliveries, sweeping Jubair Hossain for a boundary. His 158-ball innings was laced with 21 fours.
Dhawan was included in the squad after opener Lokesh Rahul had fallen ill. He was taken off the eleven in the last match against Australia after his lacklustre performance on the tour.
Vijay brought up his half-century in the third session. His 178-ball innings was built with eight boundaries and a six.
Wicketkeeper Liton Das made his debut as the hosts’ 77th Test cricketer.
Source: Bd news24
