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PIX: Kohli, Ishant put India on verge of series sweep

Last updated on: November 23, 2019 21:14 IST

Images from Day 2 of the second and final Test between India and Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.

IMAGE: India's Ishant Sharma celebrates with team-mates after dismissing Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque. Photograph: BCCI

India captain Virat Kohli embellished the pink-ball Test with a sparkling century and his quick bowlers reduced Bangladesh to 152-6 as the hosts closed on a 2-0 series sweep on day two of the second and final Test on Saturday.

 

After India declared their first innings on 347-9 in their maiden day-night Test, Bangladesh risked losing the match inside two days following a spectacular top-order collapse.

IMAGE: India captain Virat Kohli celebrates after taking the catch to dismiss Imrul Kayes. Photograph: BCCI

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, who made 39 before a hamstring injury forced him to retire hurt, batted resolutely to force a third day at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.

Mushfiqur will resume on 59 on Sunday, hoping to continue the fight though India look set to seal their 12th consecutive home series victory.

Virat Kohli

IMAGE: India captain Virat Kohli celebrates after completing his century. Photograph: BCCI

Earlier, Kohli smashed a magnificent 136 and added 99 runs with Ajinkya Rahane who fell for a fluent 51.

The India captain cover-drove Ebadot Hossain to reach 99 and, with the crowd chanting his name, took two off spinner Taijul Islam to bring up his 27th Test century, and 20th as captain.

Ajinkya Rahane

IMAGE: Ajinkya Rahane hits a boundary. Photograph: BCCI

He removed his helmet to soak up the applause but the proper celebration happened a little later when he hit Abu Jayed for four consecutive boundaries.

Ebadot dismissed Kohli when Taijul moved from deep square leg and hurled himself into the air to take a stunning catch.

IMAGE: World chess champion Magnus Carlsen, left, and India's chess legend Viswanathan Anand, 3rd right, ring the ball at the Eden Gardens to signal the start of play on Day 2. Photograph: BCCI

Kohli hit 18 fours in his 194-ball vigil, outlasting the entire Bangladesh team who had folded in 30.3 overs in their first innings.

Armed with the heavily-lacquered ball, Ishant, who had taken 5-22 in the first innings, wrecked the Bangladesh top order to return figures of 4-39.

Mushfiqur Rahim

IMAGE: Mushfiqur Rahim bats during Day 2. Photograph: BCCI

Mominul Haque made a nightmarish debut as Bangladesh's Test captain, being dismissed for a duck in both innings.

Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah, however, refused to throw in the towel, displaying the stomach for a fight that was lacking among their team mates.

Source: REUTERS
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