Ashwin bags six wickets in India win

CHENNAI, India (AP):

Ravichandran Ashwin took his 37th five-wicket haul as India beat Bangladesh by 280 runs in the first Test yesterday.

Ashwin took 6-88 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 234 in their second innings, chasing an improbable 515 for victory. Ravindra Jadeja picked up 3-58 as the spin duo consigned the Tigers to an early defeat on the morning of the fourth day.

India take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, with the second match to begin on Friday in Kanpur.

Ashwin, who also scored his sixth Test hundred in the first innings, was named Player of the Match in his home town Test.

“I have watched a lot of international cricket at this venue [as a kid], so it’s a special feeling every time I play here,” 38-year-old Ashwin said. “I am enjoying my game right now.”

Starting from an overnight 158-4, Bangladesh put up strong resistance in the first hour of play.

Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and veteran all-rounder Shakib al Hasan put on 36 runs as India went wicketless in the first hour.

Shakib survived a stumping chance off Jadeja, as Rishabh Pant couldn’t grasp the ball cleanly, but otherwise the Bangladesh pair applied themselves to deny India early inroads into the lower order.

Things changed around quickly in the second hour. Four balls after the drinks break, Ashwin had Shakib caught at short leg to provide the breakthrough. Shakib scored 25 off 56 balls, including three fours.

Jadeja then had Litton Das caught at slip for one, and Ashwin completed his five-for with Mehidy Hasan Miraz holing out to long on for eight.

Shanto went for a big swipe off Jadeja as he ran out of patience, falling for 82 runs. He faced 127 balls, and hit eight fours as well as three sixes to top-score for the tourists.

Ashwin got his sixth as Taskin Ahmed (5) quickly followed his captain, while Jadeja rounded off the lopsided victory in the 63rd over, bowling Hasan Mahmud (7).

Bangladesh lost their last six wickets for 40 runs across 45 deliveries, crashing to a big defeat 10 minutes short of lunch on this fourth day.

The visitors had won the toss and opted to bowl, reducing India to 144-6 on day one. Ashwin led India’s recovery with 113 as Jadeja (86) helped to add 199 for the seventh wicket to lift India to 376 in their first innings.

Bumrah’s 4-50 helped bowl out Bangladesh for just 149 in reply.