Bangladesh ended the first day of the Chattogram Test against India on a strong note, as they successfully took the sixth wicket of the day off the final ball.
India, who won the toss and chose to bat first, ended day one with a score of 278 for 6. Cheteshwar Pujara was the best Indian batter on the day with a remarkable 90 runs, while Shreyas Iyer remained unconquered at 82 not out.
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For Bangladesh, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam stood out, taking three wickets while conceding just 84 runs in 30 overs. He also kept the runs at bay, registering a remarkable eight maidens – the most by any Bangladeshi bowler for the day.
Taijul was at his best on the day, taking two remarkable wickets; the first being the imposing Cheteshwar Pujara who fell just 10 runs short of another Test century. He then proceeded to send the high-flying Virat Kohli back for only a run. This was all the more impressive given that Kohli had scored a hundred in the final ODI of the three-match series at the same venue.
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Mehidy Hasan Miraz put in a great performance for Bangladesh too, taking two wickets; including the vital scalp of Axar Patel off the last ball of the day.
India had a strong start to the day, as the stand-in captain of India, Lokesh Rahul, and Shubman Gill played cautiously. In their opening stand, they added 41 runs before Taijul struck, dismissing Shubman for 20.
Within 48 runs, India had lost both Lokesh and Virat, leaving them in a difficult position in the middle. However, the fourth wicket partnership between Rishabh Pant and Pujara helped to steady the ship, as they added 64 runs to the board. Pant was looking good until Mehidy dismissed him for 46.
After Pant’s departure, Pujara and Shreyas produced the highest partnership of the match so far, adding 149 runs to the scoreboard in a fifth-wicket stand. The partnership was eventually broken by Taijul, who dismissed Pujara.
Khaled Ahmed was the other successful bowler for Bangladesh, chipping in with a wicket.
At the end of day one, the Test was well poised, with Bangladesh most likely the happier side having taken the all-important wicket off the last ball of the day.
Source: United News of Bangladesh