Chennai, Sep 20 (Agency) On a day in which 17 wickets fell, bowlers, especially the pacers, gave India the edge by skittling out Bangladesh cheaply for 149 runs, and scored 81 for three at stumps on the second day of the first cricket test at Chepauk stadium here on Friday. Earlier, India resumed at 339 for six and were bowled out for 376 in little over an hour into the second morning after adding 37 runs in 11.2 overs. Then the pacers rose to the occasion bowling out Bangladesh cheaply for 149 runs and earned a handy 227 run first innings lead, thanks to a four wicket haul by Jasprit Bumrah, who led the charge, and two each by Akash Deep and Mohd Siraj. Left spinner Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with two wickets in two overs and in the process claimed his 300th test wicket.Instead of enforcing the follow on, India extended their dominance stretching their overall lead to308 runs, finishing the day at 81 for three in 23 overs in their second essay. After the early loss of openers Rohit Sharma (5) and left hander Yashasvi Jaiswal (10), ShubmanGill (33 not out, 64 balls, 4×4) and Virat Kohli (17, 37 balls, 2×4) added 39 runs for the third wicketin 12.4 overs to consolidate the lead. After Kohli departed, Gill and left hander Rishab Pant (12 not out, 13 balls, 1×4, 1×6) ensured the home team ended the day without any further loss of wickets. India will try to further stretch the lead on the morrow, despite the pitch till offering good purchase for the pacers, who have dominated the first two days, notwithstanding Jaiswal’s half century, R Ashwin’s classy century and Jadeja’s impressive 86, in the first innings. In all 17 wickets fell in the day, the most that have falled on a single day at the M A Chidambaram stadium.
The fact that 14 wickets of them were taken by fast bowlers was also the most in a day’splay in India since 2006. Resuming the second day, Ashwin and Jadeja could not extend their overnight partnership for longas India lost their last four wickets, before Bangladesh were bowled out. Replying to India’s big total, Bangladesh lost wickets in clusters on either side of the 51-run sixth wicket stand between the experienced Shakib Al Hasan (32, 64 balls, 5×4) and wicketkeeper-batsman Litton Das (27, 52 balls, 2×4, 1×6) and folded up quickly. Bumrah started the slide removing opener Shadam Islam in the first over, before Akash Deep’s two wicket burst in two balls pegged the visitors back. With the loss of two more wickets–with Siraj and Bumrah picking up a wicket each, Bangladeshwere in trouble at 40 for five, before the sixth wicket pair came to the rescue. After Jadeja’s twin strike, Bumrah and Siraj polished the tail with ease to give India a big lead, before the batters stretched it to 308 when stumps were drawn.While India clearly has the upper hand, an uphill task awaits Bangaldesh.