Fatullah (Bangladesh), June 12 (IANS) The rain gods finally allowed play in the morning session of the third day of the lone cricket Test between India and Bangladesh with the former reaching 398/3 at lunch here on Friday. Heavy showers had affected the first day and completely washed out the second.
The first session of play was shared by the hosts and the visitors as Bangladesh finally managed to break the opening wicket partnership between Murali Vijay (144 not out) and Shikhar Dhawan (173) and also bag two more vital wickets — that of ace batsman Rohit Sharma (6) and captain Virat Kohli (14).
At lunch time, Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane (55 not out) looked solid at the crease, striking an 88-run unbeaten partnership at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium.
India resumed the day at 239 for no loss and Dhawan, who had scored his third Test century on Wednesday, went about his business in usual fashion. The left-hander was aggressive from the start and attacked the Bangladeshi bowlers — spinners and pacers alike. Vijay also looked solid at the crease as he brought up his sixth Test hundred.
While trying to accelerate, Dhawan went down the track but ace spinner Shakib Al Hasan (2/78) read him and the pitched to his foot. Dhawan top-edged and offered a catch to the bowler. The caught-and-bowled finally broke the first wicket partnership of 283 runs with Dhawan going back to the pavilion after scoring a brilliant 173 which included 23 boundaries.
Shakib was at it again as he clean bowled Rohit in his next over. The Indian batsman, who replaced regular No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara, totally wasted his opportunity completely misjudging the delivery which pitched on off-stump and straightened to rattle the off-stump.
Five overs later, skipper Kohli was also walking back to the pavilion as he played on a Jubair Hossain ball which rolled on to hit his stumps. Suddenly from 283 for no loss, India were 310/3.
But thereafter Rahane and Vijay consolidated the innings, taking India close to 400. Rahane scored his seventh half-century which comprised seven boundaries.