India takes control of first test

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: January 20, 2010

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Chittagong: After a forgettable first two days in the game, India came back strongly on the third day, bowling Bangladesh out for 242 and then racing to 122 for 1 by the close of play, taking an overall lead of 123 runs at the end of Day 3 of the first test.

India had Bangladesh on the mat at 98 for 6 but the bowlers couldn’t finish off the job as Mahmudullah (69) and Mushfiqur Rahim (44) put together a crucial 108-runs partnership for the seventh wicket to take Bangladesh within one run of India’s first innings score of 243.

Once Bangladesh were dismissed for 242, India then consolidated their lead with a solid start in the second innings, reaching 122 for 1 at stumps, with Gautam Gambhir batting on 47 and nightwatchman Amit Mishra batting on 24.

Stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag was the only man dismissed caught by Raqibul Hasan off the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan for 45.

Earlier, Zaheer Khan (3/54), Amit Mishra (3/66), Ishant Sharma (2/47) and S Sreesanth (2/55) ran through the Bangladesh top order even though the final total could have been a lot smaller.

The seventh wicket stand between Mahmadullah and Rahim frustrated the Indians as the duo scored at a brisk pace, raising their 50 stand in just 66 balls. They picked most of their boundaries off an erratic Sreesanth and went on to raise their 100 runs stand from 152 balls.

Mahmadullah, who was Bangladesh’s best batsman during the tri-series, was the more aggressive of the duo, reaching his fifty from 76 balls with the help of eight fours.

But just as Bangladesh threatened to overtake India’s total, the visiting bowlers struck back with four wickets in 6.1 overs to bundle out the home team for 242 which they made from 65.2 overs.

Match Summary:

India 243 and 122 for 1 (Gambhir 47*, Sehwag 45) lead Bangladesh 242 (Mahmudullah 69, Mushfiqur 44, Zaheer 3-65) by 123 runs

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