Day 2 of Fatullah Test between India and Bangladesh called off after heavy rain

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June 11, 2015

Brief Scorecard: India 239 for 0 (Dhawan 150*, Vijay 89*) v Bangladesh

Ground staff cover the playing field during the rain-interrupted Test between Bangladesh and India at Fatullah on June 11, 2015. (AFP Photo)

June 11, 2015

Brief Scorecard: India 239 for 0 (Dhawan 150*, Vijay 89*) v Bangladesh

Ground staff cover the playing field during the rain-interrupted Test between Bangladesh and India at Fatullah on June 11, 2015. (AFP Photo)

FATULLAH, BANGLADESH – Rain played spoilsport yet again as the second day of the one-off cricket Test between India and Bangladesh was called off without a single delivery being bowled at Fatullah on Thursday.

India ended the rain-hit first day at 239 for no loss in 56 overs with opener Shikhar Dhawan unbeaten on 150 in company of Murali Vijay on 89.

With weather forecast painting a gloomy picture, there is every possibility of heavens opening up in the remaining three days, which might leave Virat Kohli's men with very little time to take 20 wickets and enforce an outright result in the match. Full scorecard

Kohli, who is eager to get on with the proceedings, might just feel a tad frustrated at the turn of events which are beyond his control.

However, the most interesting piece of statistic that has emerged out of this already rain-marred game is the fact that this is the very first time that a Test match is being played in Bangladesh in the month of June.

According to statistics published on ESPN Cricinfo, 50 Test matches (including the current one) so far have been held in Bangladesh and never ever has a Test match been played in the months of June, July, August or September, which is peak monsoon season in this part of the world.

The seven Test matches that India have played till date have been held in November (2000), December (2004-05), May (2007) and January (2010) when the possibility of heavy rain is very less.

There was an air of inevitability about rain playing a party-pooper during this short series.

That monsoons might affect the ODI series as well was predicted by Bangladesh's ODI captain Mashrafe Mortaza during a recent interaction.

"I hope rains keep away and both can play 50 overs, but one can't say as it's rainy season now," Mashrafe recently told PTI in an interaction.

Bangladesh v India: Statistical highlights of the Fatullah Test match so far

 

Shikhar Dhawan and M Vijay took the opening stand past 150, Bangladesh v India, only Test, Fatullah, 1st day, June 10, 2015

With rain shortening Day 1 and washing out Day 2, there were quite a few records set in what little play has been possible, for the number-lovers to enjoy. Here are some statistical highlights of the one-off cricket Test between India and Bangladesh.

  • Shikhar Dhawan (150 not out off 158 balls) recorded his third century in Tests – his first vs Bangladesh. His first two centuries in Tests were – 187 vs Australia at Mohali in March 2013 and 115 vs New Zealand at Auckland in February 2014.
  • Dhawan is the first batsman to post an innings of 150 in Tests at Fatullah, surpassing the 144 by Adam Gilchrist (Australia) vs Bangladesh in 2006.
  • Murali Vijay (89 not out off 178 balls) registered his 11th fifty in Tests – his first against Bangladesh. He enjoys an excellent record in his last five Tests totaling 571 runs at an average of 71.37 in nine innings, including a century and five fifties.
  • Dhawan and Vijay were involved in a stand of 239 (unbroken) – the highest partnership for any wicket in Tests at Fatullah, surpassing the 187 for the second wicket between Habibul Bashar and Shahriar Nafees for Bangladesh vs Australia in 2006. The stand is the second highest by Dhawan-Vijay pair next only to the 289 vs Australia at Mohali in March 2013.
  • Overall, four stands of 200 or more have been registered for India for the first wicket in Tests away from home – two against England and one each vs Pakistan and Bangladesh. In all, 12 stands of 200-plus have been registered for the first wicket for India in Tests.
  • A Test match is being played in the month of June for the first time on Bangladesh soil. India had last played a one-off Test vs Bangladesh fifteen years ago at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka in November 2000.
  • Dhawan and Vijay have become the sixth Indian opening pair to amass 1000 runs in Tests – their aggregate being 1161 (ave.50.47) in 24 innings, including two centuries and three fifty-plus.
  • The 239-run unbroken stand is India's highest for the first wicket vs Bangladesh, eclipsing the 175 (unbroken) between Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik at Mirpur in May 2007. The partnership is India's second highest for the opening wicket in away Tests behind the 410 between Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag vs Pakistan at Lahore in January 2006.
  • The unbroken stand is India's first partnership of 100 or more in almost four and half years for the first wicket in away Tests – the last was 137 between Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag vs South Africa at Centurion in December 2010.
  • Five century stands have been registered for the first wicket for India vs Bangladesh in Tests.
  • Vijay-Dhawan pair became the second opening Indian pair to be involved in two stands of 200-plus in Tests – the first pair being Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag. In only four innings in the sub-continent for the opening wicket, Vijay-Dhawan pair has totalled 647 runs at an average of 215.66, including two double century stands and a fifty-plus.
  • Bangladesh became the tenth team to host 50 Tests or more. The top three nations being England (494), Australia (398) and India (244).
  • Against Bangladesh, Indian opening pairs average 103.10 – the highest by them against any country.

Courtesy: PTI