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29 March 2024

Rain thwarts India after Vijay ton

Murali Vijay plays shot as Bangladesh cricketer Mominul Haque jumps to avoid the ball and wicket-keeper Lotton Das looks on during the third day of the Test match between Bangladesh and India at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Narayanganj. (AFP)

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By Agencies
 

Murali Vijay struck his sixth test century while Ajinkya Rahane fell agonisingly short of his hundred as India reached 462 for six after rain allowed only a little over 47 overs on day three of their one-off test against Bangladesh on Friday.

Torrential rain had already washed away 34 overs on day one and the entire second day's play and India lost six wickets in their bid for quick runs in two stop-start sessions before the entire third session was called off.

Ravichandran Ashwin (two) and Harbhajan Singh (seven) were at the crease when rained forced the players off the ground, virtually killing the prospect of any result in the match.

After India resumed on 239 for no loss, Shakib (4-105) and leg-spinner Jubair Hossain (2-113) took all six wickets between them as the visitors went for quick runs.

Shakib ended India's 283-run opening stand by dismissing Shikhar Dhawan (173) and also claimed the wickets of Vijay (150), Rohit Sharma (six) and Rahane (98).

Vijay steered left-arm spinner Taijul Islam for a four to bring up his sixth test hundred in the morning session but his opening partner Dhawan could not better his personal test best of 187.

The southpaw gave Shakib a soft return catch to depart after a 195-ball knock that included 23 boundaries.

Shakib struck again in his next over, uprooting the off-stump of Rohit, the only batsman with two 200-plus scores in one-dayers who continues to struggle in tests.

India skipper Virat Kohli (14) was slightly unlucky as his fluffed drive resulted in an inside edge which hit his pad before rolling onto the stumps to knock off the bail.

Vijay and Rahane, however, had little problem negotiating the hosts' limited bowling resources and they added 114 runs for the fourth wicket.

Vijay was trapped leg-before by Shakib after a 272-ball knock that included 12 boundaries and the only six of the Indian innings.

Rahane fell two runs short of what could have been his fourth test hundred, playing aggressively and hitting Shakib for back-to-back boundaries before losing his off-stump to the next ball while attempting a pull shot.

Lunch

Murali Vijay hit an unbeaten 144 to lift India to 393 for three by lunch on the third day as play finally resumed in the rain-hit Test against Bangladesh in Fatullah on Friday.

Vijay, who put on 283 for the first wicket with Shikhar Dhawan, hit 12 boundaries and a six in his sixth Test century to dominate the extended morning session at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali stadium.

Play started on time under sunny skies after heavy rain had allowed just 56 of the stipulated 90 overs on the opening day, while the entire second day's play was washed out.

Shakib Al Hasan grabbed two wickets in successive overs to briefly halt India's relentless hunt for runs after the tourists resumed their first innings at Wednesday's total of 239 for no loss.

The left-arm spinner broke the double-century opening stand when Dhawan mistimed an on-drive and lobbed an easy return catch to the bowler.

Dhawan, who started the day on 150, took his score to 173, which included 23 hits to the fence.

In his next over, Shakib bowled Rohit Sharma for six as India slid from 283-0 to 291-2.

It soon became 310-3 when leg-spinner Jubair Hossain forced skipper Virat Kohli to drag a ball on to his stumps after the batsman had made 14.

But the reliable Ajinkya Rahane hit an unbeaten 55 off 69 balls and added 88 for the unbroken fourth wicket with Vijay to boost the total.

India are expected to declare after the break to try and force a result in the remaining eight sessions of play, provided there are no further interruptions due to bad weather.

Rain has been forecast on all days of the match.