Indian spinners strike against Bangladesh

Hyderabad : Indian bowlers made deep inroads despite a fighting performance from Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan on the third day of the one-off Test in Hyderabad on Saturday.

The visitors were reeling on 246 for six at tea in their first innings, still needing another 242 runs to avoid the follow on. Rahim (47 not out) and Mehedi Hasan (nine not out) were batting at the break.

Shakib (82) and Rahim put up some resistance with their 107-run fifth-wicket partnership against a persistent Indian attack which struck early in the morning session.

The left-handed Shakib played some attacking cricket during his brisk knock laced with 14 boundaries. But he soon ran out of steam, losing his wicket to India's premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Ashwin's spin partner Ravindra Jadeja also sprang into action, getting Sabbir Rahman lbw for 16 as Bangladesh slipped further.

Rahim fought back with a patient innings, hoping to keep Bangladesh in the game against the world's number one Test side.

Starting the day on 41 for one, the visitors made their way to 125-4 at lunch with Indian pacers compounding Bangladesh's woes in their first-ever Test on Indian soil.

The hosts had put themselves in a commanding position on Friday after skipper Virat Kohli smashed 204, steering the team to a record total of 687-6 declared against Bangladesh.