In a riveting second Test match at Kanpur from September 27 to October 1, India showcased their cricketing prowess with a convincing victory over Bangladesh by 7 wickets. The match highlighted the brilliance of India’s bowling attack and the explosive batting capabilities that have become synonymous with the team in recent years. After bowling out Bangladesh for a modest total in both innings, India demonstrated their dominance in the series, clinching the win on the Day 5 of the match.

Bangladesh’s struggles with the bat

Bangladesh’s first innings was a tale of resilience and collapse, as they faced a formidable Indian bowling lineup. The team struggled to find a rhythm early in their innings, with openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam both departing cheaply, contributing only 5 and 14 runs respectively. However, Mominul Haque emerged as the lone warrior for Bangladesh, crafting a determined century.

His innings of 107 runs came off 194 balls, characterized by solid defense and selective aggression, featuring 9 fours and 2 sixes. Mominul’s knock was crucial in stabilizing the innings as wickets tumbled around him, but he lacked support from the other batters. The middle order crumbled, with only Liton Das making a significant contribution of 34 runs. The Indian bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah (3 wickets) and Akash Deep (2 wickets), maintained consistent pressure, exploiting the conditions effectively to bowl Bangladesh out for a mere 233 runs.

India’s commanding batting performance

In response, India came out with an aggressive mindset, intent on building a substantial lead. The Indian innings was highlighted by an explosive start, led by openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. However, it was Yashasvi Jaiswal who truly lit up the innings with his breathtaking stroke play. Jaiswal’s remarkable innings of 72 runs came off just 51 balls, including 12 boundaries and 2 sixes, demonstrating his ability to dominate bowlers with both timing and power.

KL Rahul supported him well, scoring a brisk 68 runs off 43 balls, ensuring that India stayed ahead in the game. The Indian middle order contributed vital runs, but it was the lower order that added crucial runs towards the end, leading to a declaration at 285 for 9. This substantial lead of 52 runs gave India a solid foundation for their bowling attack to dismantle the Bangladeshi batting line-up once more.

Bangladesh’s resilience and final collapse

In their second innings, Bangladesh displayed slight improvement but still fell short of posting a competitive total. Openers Shadman Islam and Zakir were dismissed quickly, leading to early pressure. Despite Shadman’s effort to anchor the innings with a score of 50 runs, the lack of significant partnerships meant that Bangladesh struggled to build momentum.

They could only manage 146 runs, once again falling prey to India’s disciplined bowling. Ravindra Jadeja and Bumrah were particularly impressive, each claiming 3 wickets in this innings, ensuring that the Bangladeshi batters faced continuous challenges. The Indian bowlers consistently targeted the stumps and maintained tight lines, which resulted in Bangladesh’s innings folding quickly and setting a modest target of 95 runs for India to chase.

Also READ: Fans go wild as bowlers run riot to set up 95-run chase for India in the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh

India’s confident chase

Chasing 95 runs, India encountered a few hiccups at the start, losing Rohit and Shubman Gill early in the innings. However, Jaiswal once again stood out, scoring an unbeaten 51 runs to guide India closer to victory. His aggressive batting style, combined with calculated shots, ensured that the required run rate remained under control.

Kohli, with his experienced presence, played a steady role, finishing the innings on 29 not out. The pair put together a crucial partnership that effectively secured the victory for India. Ultimately, India reached 98 for 3 in just 17.2 overs, sealing the match and the series with a commanding performance.

Here’s how cricket fraternity reacted:

Also WATCH: Jasprit Bumrah bowls a beauty to remove Mehidy Hasan Miraz on Day 5 of Kanpur Test | IND vs BAN