Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja bagged four wickets each as India thumped Bangladesh by 208 runs to win the one-off Test in Hyderabad. Referring to the outcome, India completed their sixth Test series win on the trot as well.
It’s all over! India win the one-off Test against Bangladesh by 208 runs @Paytm Test Cricket #INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/VSYZTyTjGS
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 13, 2017
Skipper Virat Kohli, however, became the first Indian captain to guide hosts to eight consecutive international series wins, surpassing the previous record of seven held by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
On the final day of the Test, Bangladesh had a mountain total of 356 runs to chase with just five wickets in hand. They, though, didn’t start in the best of the manner, as Ravindra Jadeja bowled a ripper to remove Shakib Al Hasan on 22. Pujara too helped the cause with a sharp low catch at short-leg position.
First innings hero and captain Mushfiqur Rahim joined Mahmudullah at the crease to marshal the chase. Rahim, however, failed to spill his magic again as Ashwin trapped him with a flighted delivery, which didn’t find his middle of his bat but surely did the fielder standing at mid-off. Having seen him walking towards the dressing room, India sniffed a win coming their way.
Apart from spinners, who were always in the fray to pick wickets, it was Ishant Sharma’s standout bowling performance which caught the eye. To say the least, his reverse swinging deliveries did much of the damage than his spoken words did to Sabbir Rahman in the middle. Though, it was his two quick wickets which brought India close to seal the match.
After India scalped seven wickets, it was Jadeja and Ashwin who wrapped up the tail and completed the formalities. For his record breaking 204 in the first innings, Virat Kohli was adjudged as the Man-of-the-match.
India, after finding success against New Zealand, England and Bangladesh in their home Test season, will now take on Australia in the four-match Test series, which starts in Pune from February 23.