India hammer Bangladesh

Bangladesh Cricket team are now in a dismal condition as the hosts are tottering at 58 for the loss of five in the first innings in replay to the visiting India’s formidable 610 for the loss of three on the second day of the second Test of the Grameenphone Test Series at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.

India declared their first innings making 610 for the loss of three wickets with four centuries against the hosts.

Bangladesh made a poor start as the home side lost their early four wickets for just seven runs.

The top-order batsmen of Bangladesh tried to snick the ball and paid heavily.

Zaheer Khan, the pacer of India scalped three Bangladesh wicket in the space of 20 runs.

Zaheer Khan gave his team early break through when Javed Omar, the opener of Bangladesh caught at third slip by Dinesh Karthik for a duck of Zaheer Khan’s first delivery.

RP Singh, the other pacer gave a good support to Zaheer Khan as Habibul Bashar (4), the skipper of Bangladesh team was caught behind by Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Singh’s fourth delivery of his first over.

Zaheer Khan struck again as he cleanly bowled Shahriar Nafees (2) in his second ball of the second over.

In the next ball, Zaheer Khan trapped leg before wicket Mohammad Ashraful for a duck. In that time Bangladesh team’s total was seven for the loss of four wickets off 2.3 overs.

Later, Shakib Al Hasan and Rajin Saleh added 33 runs in the fifth wicket stand before Rajin Saleh was caught by Wasim Jaffer off Anil Kumble. Shakib Al Hasan remained undefeated with 30 runs off 45 balls amid four fours while Rajin Saleh scored 20 off 29 balls including four shots beyond the ropes.

Earlier, India team resumed their first innings with the over-night score of 326 for the loss of none.

Rahul Dravid (88) and Sachin Tendulkar (9) resumed their first innings and then they added 82 runs in the third wicket stand.

Rahul Dravid knocked a painstaking 129 off 176 balls. His 246-minute knock was ornamented with 15 fours and a huge six. It was Rahul Dravid’s 24th Test century in his career so far.

Then, Dinesh Karthik, the retired hurt opener came to the crease with his overnight score of 82 and made 129 off 212 balls before he was caught by Habibul Bashar off Mohammad Rafique.

After departure of Dinesh Karthik, Sourav Ganguly came with his willow but failed to make a good score. He was caught behind by makeshift wicketkeeper Rajin Saleh off Mohammad Rafique for just 15 runs. In that time India’s total was 525 for the loss of three wickets.

Then Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni put up 85 runs for their unbroken fifth wicket partnership.

Sachin Tendulkar hit an undefeated 122 off 226 balls. He cracked eight fours and a six in his 37th Test century.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed almost run-a-ball 51 with four huge sixes and three fours.

It may be mentioned that Wasim Jaffer, the other opener of the touring side made 138 before he was retired hurt.

Mohammad Rafique bagged two wickets conceding 181 runs while Mashrafee Bin Mortaza took one wicket for 100 runs.