Steady Partnership Defies India's Charge in Second Test

After getting into bat under overcast conditions, Bangladesh survived a challenging morning session on the first day of the second Test against India in Kanpur. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (28*) and Mominul Haque (17*) managed an unbeaten 45-run stand to resist India's charge in difficult conditions. The wet outfield, a result of overnight rains, postponed the match start. Indian captain Rohit Sharma was influenced by these factors to bowl at the toss. It was clear from the beginning that the Kanpur surface differed vastly from the one experienced at Chepauk.

Despite the availability of grass, the black soil of the deck resulted in a lower bounce level and slowed the surface down. India's new-ball duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj managed to swing the ball, the movements being more profuse than usually. Bangladesh's openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan bore a few close calls but looked mostly secure against the new ball until Akash Deep's arrival. India's current leading fast bowler scored in his first over by getting Zakir to gully where Yashasvi Jaiswal made a brilliant catch. Soon after, the fast bowler got Shadman LBW, granting India momentum.

Akash Deep emerged as the standout bowler of the session, delivering probing lines and lengths that left the Bangladesh batters frustrated. Nevertheless, Shanto and Mominul remained patient to blunt the bowling. The condition seemed to have picked up a pace as the sky cleared. Enough help was still there for the bowlers and India put everything they had against the Shanto-Mominul partnership, only for the duo to maintain their ground. They successfully prevented any further damage and just before lunch, rain reappeared.

The Brief scores stood as: Bangladesh 74-2 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 28*; Akash Deep 2-14) against India