Kanpur, India
It was rain-curtailed yet impactful Day 1 of the second Test match between India and Bangladesh as the hosts began their quest for a whitewash over their neighbours. With just 35 overs bowled on Day 1 of the Kanpur Test, the match was called off with Ravichandran Ashwin adding one more feather to his hat. With his solitary wicket on the day, he broke Anil Kumble’s record for most wickets on Asian soil for an Indian.
Rain plays spoilsport
Having won the toss after a delayed start to the match, Rohit Sharma became the first captain in 60 years to choose bowling. The Indian skipper’s decision proved to be worthy as they got the better of Zakir Hasan for a duck having faced 24 balls before heading back to the pavilion. Shadman Islam soon followed him as he was dismissed for 24 off 36 balls. The partnership of skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (31) and Mominul Haque restructured the innings.
Rain would again play its part as the umpires finally decided to call off Day 1 at 2:56 pm. At the Stumps on Day 1, Mominul Haque was batting on 40 while Mushfiqur Rahim was on 6 with Bangladesh on 107/3. Akash Deep scalped two wickets while Ashwin bagged one in a day-curtailed contest.
Ashwin breaks Kumble’s record
On the fifth ball of the 29th over, Ashwin scalped the wicket of Shanto which saw him write yet another chapter in his illustrious career. The veteran all-rounder now has 420 wickets in the Test format on Asian soil surpassing Kumble’s tally. In fact, only Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan with 612 wickets has more success on Asian soil.
Most Test wickets in Asia
612 M Muralidaran
420 R Ashwin*
419 Anil Kumble
354 Rangana Herath
300 Harbhajan Singh
India will look to take advantage of the overcast conditions in Kanpur on Day 2 as they look to stamp their authority on the contest.