The second Test between India and Bangladesh was interrupted by rain on Friday (September 27). Only 35 overs of play was possible with rain forcing a delayed start in Kanpur and later an early call for stumps on Day 1 of the Test match. India bowlers were right on the money in the beginning. Akash Deep got Mominul Haque but Najmul Hossain Shanto kept Bangladesh until Lunch. Later on, R Ashwin got Shanto with a LBW dismissal and the play was called off around 2:56 PM (IST) due to bad weather.
Overnight rain had delayed the start of the match by an hour. Heavy overcast conditions influenced India's team selection as the hosts kept all three pacers from the Chennai Test, which meant that local boy Kuldeep Yadav missed out on another Test match.
Akash (2/14 in 10 overs), who bowled round the wicket to the left-handers, consistently hit the good length areas and got the ball to either shape away or come in with the angle. Shanto (57 balls, 4x6), though, batted with positive intent, if not combative, to ensure Bangladesh don't lose way from the start.
As expected, the initial bounce and seam movement had openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam playing in circumspect manner. Islam (24) worked the ball around but an overcautious Hasan (0) simply couldn't get going.
Jasprit Bumrah had the openers squared up as the away-going deliveries kept landing in Rishab Pant's gloves. Mohammed Siraj induced edges that flew to the slip cordon but none carried to the fielders'.
Before the start of the 2nd Test in Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), rain was forecast for the first three days. Day 1 was significantly disrupted by rain, and it appears that Saturday will follow a similar pattern. According to weather.com, thunderstorms are expected, with a "100 percent" chance of rain.
Shadman hit couple of boundaries off Bumrah in a single over, the first was a flick off the pads, and the second was an uppish drive. On the other side, Hasan consumed 23 dot balls and was yet to open his account.
Akash, who came in as a second-change, ended his misery by inducing an edge that flew to Yashasvi Jaiswal who went low on his right to grab the chance. Akash soon sent back Shadman on a ball that came in and caught him in front of the wicket. The opener reviewed the decision but to no avail.
Shanto, who has been in good rhythm, began with two shots to the fence in a sort of statement that he won't get intimidated by the classy Indian bowlers. He also got a boundary off Siraj but those were not the cleanest of hits. His reverse sweep off off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin though stood out.
Ashwin, who did not get a wicket in the opening session, trapped Shanto in the third over of the second session. Shanto played for the turn but was beaten. The umpire had no hesitation in raising his finger. The Bangladesh skipper reviewed the decision hoping against hope.
Seasoned Mominul grew in confidence as he spent more time at the crease. He hit two boundaries off Akash in a single over and later hit an exquisite drive through mid-off. He raised Bangladesh's hundred with another four. Only nine overs were bowled in the second session when bad light stopped play even as the flood lights were on, forcing the players off the field. Light drizzle followed and soon it was pouring. (With PTI Inputs)
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