Seamers put India on top in second test against Bangladesh

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: January 25, 2010

commentComment     Email This Post Email This Post     Printable version

Seamers put India on top in second test against Bangladesh thumbnail

Mirpur: Despite Mahmudullah Riad’s gritty 96 not out, India bundled out Bangladesh for 233 and took control of the game on the first day of the second and final test in Dhaka.

In reply, India had already knocked off 69 runs without losing any wickets, with the opening pair of Gautam Gambhir (26 not out) and Virender Sehwag (41 not out) at the crease. And with the conditions expected to favour the batsmen on the second and third days, Bangladesh would have to play out of their skins if they want to make a comeback in this game.

Earlier, Bangladesh squandered away a golden opportunity after they won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch that was a batting beauty. Two of their most experienced players, Captain Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Ashraful, got out to appalling shots as the hosts were tottering at 51 for 5 in the first hour of play. It was Mahmudullah, coming in at number 8, a number that Bangladesh seriously needs to reconsider, who rescued the innings forging partnerships with the lower order.

The last two wickets added 78 runs before Harbhajan got one to sneak through the defence of Rubel Hossain to leave Mahmudullah stranded on 96. Mahmudullah batted almost 30 overs with No. 10 and 11, but eventually ran out of partners. As he walked off though, several Indian fielders ran up to shake his hand, it was just that good an innings!

For India, Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan were the pick of the bowlers as they ran through the Bangladesh top order. Ishant finished with figures of 4/66 while Zaheer finished with 3/62. Pragyan Ojha scalped 2 wickets and Harbhajan Singh ended the innings with the wicket of No. 11 Rubel Hossain.

India would return on day two on Monday to first wipe out the 164 run deficit and then push for a big total to bat the hosts out of the match and complete a 2-0 rout in the series.

Match Summary:

India 69 for 0 (Sehwag 41*) trail Bangladesh 233 (Mahmudullah 96*, Ishant 4-66, Zaheer 3-62) by 164 runs

Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,


WPSN comments




Related News Headlines

Cricketain Latest