Tendulkar Annihialates Bangladesh

A masterful exhibition of batting by Sachin Tendulkar and some irritatingly good batting by number eleven Zaheer Khan helped India completely demolish the hapless Bangladesh.

Resuming the day on 7/348, Anil Kumble stayed stagnant at the crease while Tendulkar continued to flourish and play his trademark Tendulkar strokes. With the score at 368, Kumble perished for just 1 as he was bowled by the tireless workhorse, Mushrafe Mortaza.

Tendulkar continued to dominate and Harbhajan Singh helped him out with a two quick boundaries. But Harbhajan didn't last much longer as he was out for 8 and relief was in sight for Bangladesh.

Zaheer Khan strode out to the middle and Bangladesh contemplated wrapping the Indian innings up. But on the mind of Zaheer Khan was defiance. Tendulkar and Zaheer combined for an irritating partnership that completely took Bangladesh out of the equation with regards to the match.

Tendulkar registered another double century, his fourth in his illustrious career and Zaheer Khan went past his first half century in test cricket as he took to the Bangladesh fast bowlers.

Eventually, Zaheer Khan went past the old record of the highest runs scored by a number eleven batsman and went past 70 runs. Meanwhile at the other end, Tendulkar was a run machine and battered the Bangladesh bowlers into submission with his classy strokeplay.

But the fun and games stopped as Zaheer Khan was dismissed for 75 as he tried to hit a delivery off Mohammad Rafique out of the ground but was stumped in the process by Khaled Mashud. India were all out for 526 with Sachin Tendulkar left stranded on 248*.

With a lead of 342, Bangladesh were never in the contest. Irfan Pathan added salt into the already deep wounds of the Bangladesh side as he dismissed Javed Omar for just 4 runs.

Pathan then had the experienced Habibul Bashar out for 12 as Bangladesh slid down towards further oblivion at 2/24. Three balls later, Rajin Saleh was out for another duck and once again out to Irfan Pathan as the emerging fast bowler had 3 quick wickets and 8 for the match.

A few overs later, Pathan again struck for India and this time it was Mohammad Ashraful who went for 0 and now Bangladesh were looking down the door to defeat at 4/24.
Irfan Pathan was on fire and grabbed another victim, that of Khaled Mashud who fell for just 5 as Pathan grabbed his 10th wicket for the match.

But some solid counter attacking by opener Nafis Iqbal and Manjural Islam Rana gave Bangladesh some respectability to their total. Iqbal passed his half century but was dismissed by Kumble for a well made 54.

Manjural Islam Rana got past his half century as well and Bangladesh were past the 100 run mark in their second innings. However Rana didn't get much support from his fellow tailenders as Mushfiqur (6) and Rafique (11) were dismissed by Harbhajan and Kumble respectively.

Bad light was offered to Bangladesh and they immediately accepted and at the close of play, Bangladesh were 8/170 still needing 172 runs to make India bat again.


Brief Score Summary:

Bangladesh (1st Innings): 184 All Out (Ashraful 60*, Rafique 47, Pathan 5/45, Zaheer 2/51, Kumble 2/45)

India (1st Innings): 526 All Out (Tendulkar 248*, Zaheer 75, Ganguly 71, Mashrafe 2/125, Tapash 2/114, Rafique 2/113)

Bangladesh (2nd Innings): 8/170 (Iqbal 54, Manjural Islam Rana 50*, Pathan 5/31)

Posted by Sangrah