Chennai: Stroke filled half centuries by Shubman Gill and left hander Rishab Pant put India in a commanding position at lunch on the third day of the first test against Bangladesh here on Saturday.
Resuming at 81 for three, the overnight pair continued their onslaught as India reached 205 for three in 51 overs, swelling the overall lead to 432 runs taking the game away from Bangladesh.
India scored 124 runs in the session in 28 overs without losing a wicket, as both the batsmen have so far added 138 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket in 31.4 overs.
At the break, Gill was unbeaten on 86 (137 balls, 7×4, 3×6) and Pant, in his typically aggressive fast paced innings was batting on 82 off just 108 balls hitting nine fours and three sixers.
Incessant rains since late last night, raised concerns of a delayed start. However, the match resumed as scheduled under overcast conditions, but the Bangladesh bowlers, especially the pacers, failed to take advantage of it.
Bangladesh adopted pace-spin attack in a bid to break the shackles. But Gill and Pant, rose to the occasion with some fine exhibition of stroke play.
After being rather sedate initially, both of them used their feet against the spinners, besides cutting and driving the fast bowlers, with elan.
Despite lunch break approaching, both the players shifted gears as India scored 50 runs in the last six overs, including 10 in the last over by Pant of left arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan, as he at times outscored his partner.
None of bowlers–pacers and the spinners–could not make any impact as Gill and Pant played non-chalantly to take the game beyond the reach of Bangladesh.
Both of them will try to go for quicker runs after the break,with declaration in sight
