India vs Bangladesh 2nd Test Day 4 Highlights: R Ashwin, Shreyas Iyer take it over the line, IND beat BAN by 3 wickets

Bangladesh are no pushovers in any format, certainly not at home and, considering the number they did on New Zealand not too long ago, away from home either. They pretty much thrashed India in the ODIs before India won that last ODI in a comprehensive manner. Then they gave the visitors an almighty scare and more questions to answer despite their win in the second Test, despite defending a total as low as 145 in the second innings. An engrossing Test ends a thrilling tour and for India, it is now to the limited overs matches against Sri Lanka at home before they host Australia for the final stretch in their road to qualification for the WTC final. 

“You trust the guys in the middle (during such situations). We've played enough cricket to realise that someone will put their hand up to win us the game. But I'm not going to lie, there was a lot of tension in the dressing room. It was a tough wicket to bat on, they put us under pressure in both innings. It was a new-ball surface to some extent, once ball got softer, it was easier to score runs. It was a matter of who plays the new ball better. We did lose a few more wickets than ideal (in the chase) but we got the job done. Will take the win. That (bowling attack) has been the case for the last many years now. Wherever we've gone overseas in recent years, we have done the job.”

Ashwin had done a number on everyone by starting his interview saying that Shreyas Iyer is the player of the series. “We didn't have much batting left. It was one of those games where we let the game drift whenever we could have shut it off. Shreyas batted beautifully. Sometimes these situations you feel like you have to get ahead of things, they bowled good lines and I felt that we didn't trust our defences enough. Loved the way Shreyas batted. Pitches are quite good here. But I thought the ball got soft really quickly. Credit to Bangladesh, they put us under real pressure at certain moments.”

“We didn't have much batting left. It was one of those games where we let the game drift whenever we could have shut it off. Shreyas batted beautifully. Sometimes these situations you feel like you have to get ahead of things, they bowled good lines and I felt that we didn't trust our defences enough. Loved the way Shreyas batted. Pitches are quite good here. But I thought the ball got soft really quickly. Credit to Bangladesh, they put us under real pressure at certain moments.”

“Everyone contributed. We always knew that we had chance in Mirpur. Very good Test cricket, that's what the crowds love to see. Both teams were really good. Credit goes to Shreyas and Ashwin, they absorbed the pressure well and built a partnership. We had 70-odd runs to play with, just needed one wicket. We can think of several Ifs and buts, but I'm proud of the way we fought. That (all-round skills) is my job, unfortunately couldn't bowl much last game. We had our moments this year but hopefully, next year will be much better for Bangladesh.”

Shreyas Iyer might just have edged Ravichandran Ashwin, although it is pretty difficult to choose between them. Iyer did have that 87 off 105 balls in the first innings but then Ashwin also took four wickets in the Bangladesh first innings and two in the second. Special mentions, certainly, for the brilliant Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan with the ball, Rishabh Pant and Litton Das. 

Ashwin pulls the last ball of the over to the boundary and that is that! Ashwin finishes unbeaten on 42 off 62 balls, Shreyas on 29 off 46. The stand between them ends on 71 off 105 balls. What a match this has turned out to be, you have to feel for the Bangladesh players. From being 70/4 in the second innings, they managed to get to a lead of 145 and then made it very uncomfortable for India despite the low target. 

Inside out over covers off the fifth ball of Miraz's over. India four runs away from victory. 

India need 10 to win now. Length ball from Miraz, Ashwin smashes that over deep miwicket. 

There has been some rancour between Khaled and Ashwin. Ashwin pulls out while Khaled was approaching his jump and the latter decides to run all the way up the pitch to where Ashwin was standing. Ashwin apologises as Khaled stares him down. 

Ashwin and Iyer have done exactly what India needed them to do. The Bangladesh fans have gone silent now, it will take an extraordinary collapse for them to win this now. 

Ashwin hangs his bat out, it just beats gully and goes to the boundary! India now need 26 runs to win. 

Khaled had given Ashwin a stare after angling the first ball into his body. Ashwin proceeds to clip the third ball to the boundary after seeing it was full and veering to his pads. 

Ashwin promptly goes for some extra covering. Khaled Ahmed is the man who has been brought on. 

Short from Miraz for the third ball of the 42nd, Shreyas slaps it though cover. India's deficit now comes down to 34 runs. 

The last ball of the over is short from Shakib and Shreyas pulls it over deep midwicket! He moves to 22 off 38, India are 106/7, need 39 runs to win. Partnership between Ashwin and Shreyas is now on 33 which is easily India's best of the innings. 

Shreyas Iyer goes inside out and sends the fourth ball of Shakib's over above cover for four. 

Miraz overpitches it wide outside off, Shreyas takes the gift and sends it to the boundary with a square drive. India need 52 to win. 

An extraordinary first hour comes to an end, it is time for a break, will that mean another wicket after this? That is generally how things have gone in this Test thus far and if it continues here, India will be in all sorts. For now Iyer and Ashwin have looked pretty solid. Taijul Islam replaced Shakib Al Hasan  and bowled a couple of overs. 

Ashwin tucks it away and Mominul tries to make a grab at it at short leg. It went off the pad and Mominul could not hold on. He had taken a blinder to dismiss Virat Kohli yesterday, remember. 

Shreyas on four off 11, Ashwin on one off seven. This is it for them. If either of these two manage to score even 30 runs, India would be in business. For now, this is certainly Bangladesh's Test to lose. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz has five! India are falling apart, Bangladesh are rampant. Miraz had given Bangladesh an epic win in the ODI series with the bat, now he is doing it with the ball. India 74/7, need 71 to win.

Well, well, well, how massive is that! Mehidy pushes Pant to the backfoot but there is not much bounce. He is struck right in front of off, looks absolutely thunderstruck. He goes to have a chat with Axar but decides against the review. This is a big fish allright. Bangladesh are arguably one wicket away now to getting into the Indian tail. India 71/6, need 74 to win. 

25 runs have been scored in the first three overs. Sure, there was a wicket lost but it was that of the nightwatchman after all. 

Pant reverse sweeps the first ball he faces from Shakib for four. India have certainly come out with a positive intent today.