Cricket news round-up – November 24: Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma take India closer to victory

India have taken a big step towards wrapping up the day-night Test within three days after Virat Kohli’s century was followed by a four-wicket haul from Ishant Sharma. Elsewhere, Marnus Labuschagne scored his maiden Test ton against Pakistan, and Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill were released to play Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Kohli, Ishant take India closer to victory

Virat Kohli scored his 27th Test century before Ishant Sharma once again dismantled the Bangladesh top order, as the second day of the pink-ball Test ended with Bangladesh 152/6, still 89 runs behind after India had declared for 347/9.

Ajinkya Rahane and Kohli resumed the day for India, with Rahane wasting little time in bringing up his half-century. He couldn’t carry on, but Kohli did, and in bringing up his 27 Test century, he became the first India to score a ton in a pink-ball match. Bangladesh went about taking wickets thereafter, before India decided to have a pop at Bangladesh under lights.

It was once again the Ishant show after that, following his 5-22 in the first innings, as he ran through the top order, and Bangladesh were reduced to 13-4. However, Mushfiqur Rahim scored a fighting half-century and put on partnerships with Mahmudullah and Mehidy Hassan to ensure the Test went into a third day.

Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill released to play SMA

India have decided to release Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant from their Test squad so as to allow the youngsters to play the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for their respective teams.

KS Bharat has been named standby for Wriddhiman Saha for the rest of the day-night Test against Bangladesh.

“I played the first pink ball match in Lucknow when it was introduced in the Duleep Trophy in 2015,” Bharat said. “I got a call and was asked to join the team in the morning.”

Australia continue to dominate Pakistan

Australia posted a mammoth 580 in response to bundling out Pakistan for 240 in their first innings, with Marnus Labuschagne scoring a 185.

Then, by stumps, Mitchell Starc had helped reduce Pakistan to 68/3, and the visitors are still trailing by 276. They need to reach that mark on the fourth day to ensure Australia are denied an innings victory.

Labuschagne’s century was his first in Test cricket, and it helped Australia pile Pakistan under a mountain of runs, despite losing David Warner, who could add only three runs to his overnight 151.

Ponting ‘like my old man’ – David Warner

David Warner, the Australia batsman, has revealed how former captain Ricky Ponting was like a “father figure” to him during a tough time at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019.

Warner had just returned from a 12-month suspension for his role in the infamous ball-tampering incident in March 2018, and revealed how Ponting was key to him finishing as the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, with 647 runs.

“It was fantastic having Ricky there, he was like my old man,” Warner told cricket.com.au. “He was always checking in and I think we had breakfast, lunch and dinner together, amongst the golf trips we had. He helped me a lot through [the World Cup]. It was a tough period for me coming back into the Australian colours and getting back in the groove of playing cricket again, especially in England.”