Ashwin, Iyer clinch victory from the jaws of defeat

Ashwin, Iyer clinch victory from the jaws of defeat

India 314 (Pant 93, Iyer 87, Taijul 4-74, Shakib 4-79) and 145 for 7 (Ashwin 42*, Mehidy Hasan 5-63) beat Bangladesh 227 (Mominul 84, Umesh 4-25, Ashwin 4-71) and 231 (Litton 73, Zakir 51, Axar 3-68) by three wickets

Dhaka: Dominant India consolidate their position in the ICC World Test Championship standings with a sensational win over Bangladesh in the Dhaka Test.

The 71-run partnership is match-winning, a comeback that keeps India undefeated against Bangladesh in Tests.

India resumed Day 4 on 45/4, needing 100 more runs to seal victory in Dhaka and a series sweep.

Early in the day, ace spinner Shakib Al Hasan trapped Jaydev Unadkat in front, sending the India batter back for 13.

Wickets continued to fall as the visitors lost two more wickets in quick succession.

Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowled beautifully to claim two big wickets in two consecutive overs – Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel – and also completed a five-for.

While Pant was dismissed LBW for 9, Axar, who was holding the fort from the other end, in an attempt to play a defensive shot was bowled after the ball clipped the pads and disturbed the leg stump.

India still had able batters in Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin to take them across the line.

The two batters batted with caution and took their time as they kept rotating the strike. After settling in nicely, they started batting aggressively, finding gaps regularly.

Soon, their partnership crossed the 50-run mark with India needing only 20 runs to win. At this stage, it looked like India's game and it eventually turned out to be one.

India's Word Test Championship status is still on course, they are still on No. 2, with Australia to tour in February next year. They'll have many a question to answer, particularly about the top order.

India soared to the No.3 spot on the World Test Championship standings following their victory in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram, and further up to No.2 after South Africa lost to Australia in Brisbane last week.

A victory in Dhaka has resulted in India strengthening their second position, with their win-percentage improving from 55.77 to 58.93.

Australia are at the top of the table while South Africa (54.55%) and Sri Lanka (53.33%) are right behind India at No.3 and 4 respectively.