Rain wrecks India-Bangladesh cricket Test

Tamim Iqbal has become Bangladesh’s leading run-scorer in Tests as his country’s rain-ruined one-off match against India lurches towards a draw.

India declared their first innings on Saturday morning at their overnight score of six for 462 in a bid to force a result despite just 103.3 overs’ play during the first three days.

Bangladesh were 111 for three in 30.1 overs in reply at lunch before rain wiped out the remaining two sessions at the water-logged Khan Shaheb Osman Ali stadium in Fatullah.

With just a day left and not even two innings completed, only a dramatic Bangladeshi collapse will liven play on Sunday.

Bangladesh opener Imrul Kayes hit an unbeaten 59 to thwart India’s bowlers, who claimed three quick wickets before the rains set in.

Left-handed Tamim took the top spot among Bangladesh’s Test batsmen when, on seven, he surpassed former captain Habibul Bashar’s tally of 3026 runs in 50 matches.

Tamim, playing his 40th Test, moved to 19 before he was stumped by Wriddhiman Saha off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who shared the new ball with seamer Ishant Sharma.

Mominul Haque missed a chance to equal a world record when caught in the deep off Harbhajan Singh after making 30.

The left-hander fell 20 runs short of equalling South African AB de Villiers’ feat of scoring a half-century in 12 consecutive Tests.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim fell for two just before rain interrupted play when he edged Ashwin to Rohit Sharma at leg slip.

Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan, who hit 173 in the match, laughed when asked what he expected from the final day.

“According to the forecast, we expect more rain,” he said. “But if we get to play, it will be good for us and for the spectators too.

“If we had played a full game we may have realised our aim to win the Test but you can’t control the weather.”

Tamim warned against taking a draw for granted, insisting much could still happen if there was no more rain.

“The first half-an-hour will be very important. If we can build a partnership, then we can safely say the Test is over.

“But cricket is a funny game and anything can happen. We are very relaxed because we know what we need to do and that is to build a good partnership.”

The Test will be followed by three one-day internationals in Dhaka on June 18, 21 and 24.

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