India-Bangladesh: Rain delays Day 2 of Kanpur Test

The drizzle in the morning on Saturday at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur turned into heavy rain and there is a possibility that play won't be possible today

kanpur-test-pti The ground remains covered following rains, on the second day of the second Test match between India and Bangladesh, at the Green Park Stadium, Kanpur | PTI

Heavy rain delayed the start of action on day two of the second Test between India and Bangladesh at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on Saturday.

Bangladesh were 107 for 3 in their first innings at the end of the rain-curtailed opening day on Friday. Only 35 overs could be bowled on the opening day with India pacer Akash Deep accounting for two Bangladeshi batters.

The drizzle in the morning on Saturday turned into heavy rain and there is a possibility that play won't be possible today.

The two teams have already left the stadium and former India players Sunil Gavaskar and Dinesh Karthik, who are a part of on the commentary panel, were also seen leaving the venue.

On Friday also, the start of the match was delayed by an hour due to wet outfield following overnight rain. Mominul Haque (40 batting) and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim (6) were at the crease when heavens opened up.

Overnight rain had delayed the start of the match by an hour. Heavy overcast conditions influenced India's team selection as the hosts kept all three pacers from the Chennai Test, which meant that local boy Kuldeep Yadav missed out on another Test match.

Akash (2/14 in 10 overs), who bowled round the wicket to the left-handers, consistently hit the good length areas and got the ball to either shape away or come in with the angle.

Shanto (31 in 57 balls, 4x6), though, batted with positive intent, if not combative, to ensure Bangladesh don't lose the way from the start.

As expected, the initial bounce and seam movement had openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam playing in circumspect manner. Islam (24) worked the ball around but an overcautious Hasan (0) simply couldn't get going.

Jasprit Bumrah had the openers squared up as the away-going deliveries kept landing in Rishab Pant's gloves.

Mohammed Siraj induced edges that flew to the slip cordon but none carried to the fielders.

Shadman hit couple of boundaries off Bumrah in a single over, the first was a flick off the pads, and the second was an uppish drive.

On the other side, Hasan consumed 23 dot balls and was yet to open his account.

Akash, who came in as a second-change, ended his misery by inducing an edge that flew to Yashasvi Jaiswal who went low on his right to grab the chance.

Akash soon sent back Shadman on a ball that came in and caught him in front of the wicket. The opener reviewed the decision but to no avail.

Shanto, who has been in good rhythm, began with two shots to the fence in a sort of statement that he won't get intimidated by the classy Indian bowlers.

He also got a boundary off Siraj but those were not the cleanest of hits. His reverse sweep off off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin though stood out.

Ashwin, who did not get a wicket in the opening session, trapped Shanto in the third over of the second session. Shanto played for the turn but was beaten. The umpire had no hesitation in raising his finger. The Bangladesh skipper reviewed the decision hoping against hope.

Seasoned Mominul grew in confidence as he spent more time at the crease. He hit two boundaries off Akash in a single over and later hit an exquisite drive through mid-off.

He raised Bangladesh's hundred with another four.

Only nine overs were bowled in the second session when bad light stopped play even as the flood lights were on, forcing the players off the field. Light drizzle followed and soon it was pouring.

India are leading the two-match series 1-0, having won the Chennai Test by 280 runs.

Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp