Virat Kohli scored his 23rd half-century as India continued their dominance over Bangladesh on Day 1 of the first-ever day-night Test match. The Indian skipper also became the second Indian batsman after Cheteshwar Pujara to hit a half-century in pink-ball cricket. Kohli, who has 23 half-centuries to go with his 26 hundreds, now has 49 fifty-plus scores equalling Gundappa Viswanath’s record, who also has the same number of 50-plus scores in Test cricket. Kohli sent Eden Gardens into ruptures with a boundary of off Ebadat Hossain just four deliveries after the bowler had sent back Pujara. His half-century helped India maintain the lead over Bangladesh in the second Test match. India Vs Bangladesh, Live Cricket Score 2nd Test Match.
Kohli’s innings was helped by seven boundaries and came in just 76 deliveries. The Indian skipper, who came at the crease at Rohit Sharma’s dismissal, started with a boundary and stitched a vital 93-run partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara (55) in just 26 overs that helped settle India’s nerves with the bat after both of their openers had been sent back for less than 50 runs. Sachin Tendulkar leads the Indian and overall international of most half-centuries and 50-plus scores in Test cricket. The master blaster scored 68 half-centuries and a staggering 199 scores of 50 or more runs during his 200-match Test career.
Former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis is second in the international list of most fifty-plus scores with 103 (45 tons and 58 fifties), while Dravid is second in the Indian list with 99 scores of 50 or most Test scores. Kohli, who now has 49 Test scores of 50 or more, needs two more to equal former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, who has 51 such scores.
Meanwhile, India are comfortably placed in the 2nd Test at 159/3 and have already taken a 53-run lead. Earlier, a five-wicket haul by Ishant Sharma – his 10th in Test cricket – and a three-fer from Umesh Yadav bundled Bangladesh for just 106 runs inside two sessions after opting to bat first. India already lead the Test series 1-0
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 22, 2019 08:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).