Bangladesh will be fighting to save their only Test match against India, but even a draw looks unlikely at this point, with a final day pitch working into the hosts’ favour. Join The Roar for live scores of the final day in Hyderabad from 3pm (AEDT).
India, in their final hitout before the series against Australia, virtually ensured they couldn’t lose this match in the first two days as a Virat Kohli double century led them to a monstrous first innings score.
The hosts would eventually declare on 6 for 687, leaving just 13 overs on the second day. The pitch did very little for the Bangladeshi bowlers and they were left to melt in the field for 166 overs.
Since then, the pitch has slowly disintegrated, beginning to take spin on what has always been a low and slow deck, the Tigers struggling to build a score in return.
While many of their batsmen made starts in the first innings, none went on with it and they were eventually knocked over short of the follow-on for 388.
Even with that option, India decided to let their bowlers put their feet up for a small period of time as they quickly clattered their way to 4 for 159 from just 29 overs, leaving 35 overs on the second day’s play for their bowlers to have a crack.
Given Shakib Al Hasan and Mehedi Hasan were the only two bowlers who looked remotely threatening during the Indian second innings, it was clear the task facing Bangladesh was a tough one and they didn’t do fantastically, going to stumps already three down for the addition of just 103 runs.
While Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan got themselves through to stumps, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were the only two bowlers to take wickets and the Tigers have a mountain to climb during the final 90 overs.
Prediction
It’s extremely difficult to see the Tigers hanging on for a draw here, let alone winning the match. If the pitch played like it did on Day 1, then seven wickets might be enough to get through the day, but the spinners are starting to come into their own, so this should be over sometime around Tea with an Indian victory.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of the final day of this Test match from 3pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Harshal Patel was not a happy man!
England's tour of India has ended in abject fashion as the tourists were hammered by an innings and 64 runs inside three days, with…
India have bowled England out for a below-par 218 and cruised to 1-135 in reply to seize early control of the fifth and final…
India have accomplished a nervy run-chase to secure a five-wicket victory against England in the fourth cricket Test in Ranchi. Chasing a modest 192…
In the build up to the India vs England Test series, there were reasonable predictions that India would be the ultimate challenge for Bazball.…
Until quite recently, you would look through an Indian Test XI and see experience everywhere: Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja with the…
