Hyderabad, Feb 13 (CRICKETNMORE) Bangladesh battled hard to save the one-off cricket Test against India as they reached 202 for five in their second innings till the lunch session on the final day here on Monday.
Overnight batsman Mahmudullah (58 not out) posted his 13th fifty in Test cricket, as the tourists still need 257 runs to beat India.
India picked two wickets in the session as they pushed for the victory, with Bangladesh resuming the day at 103 for three.
Bangladesh got off to a worst start to the day as they lost experienced Shakib Al Hasan who managed to add only two runs to his overnight score of 21. A delivery from left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja bounced high hitting the rough to kiss Shakib's gloves for an easy catch for Cheteshwar Pujara at short leg in the second over of the day.
At 106-4, captain Mushfiqur Rahim joined Mahmudullah in the middle and the pair negotiated the pressure exerted by India. Mahmudullah began with two edgy fours off paceman Umesh Yadav and once he got settled, Jadeja and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin failed to trouble him.
Ashwin, however, ended the 56-run partnership as an attacking Mushfiqur danced down the track but couldn't clear Jadeja, who took a running catch at mid-off.
Then Mahmudullah partnered Sabbir Rahman (18 not out) as they showed the doggedness and willing to battle it out with an unbeaten 40-run stand for the sixth wicket till the lunch session.