Nightmare day for Bangladesh

Before the start of play today the Bangladesh management probably ran through in their minds a number of scenarios for the situation at stumps on the first day of the second Test against India, but it is doubtful that even the worst-case scenario was anywhere near as bad as the situation the team have found themselves in. After 90 overs in energy-sapping Dhaka heat, they walked off the field with the scoreboard reading 326-0.

By the time stumps came around there were two different batsmen in the middle, but that was only because the conditions forced the two openers to retire hurt after suffering from dehydration and cramping.

It started reasonably promisingly for the home team, with Dinesh Karthik and Wasim Jaffer both playing cautiously against some accurate early bowling. Mashrafe Mortaza, an all-round hero in the drawn first Test at Chittagong, conceded just seven runs from his first eight overs.

But from there it all went downhill. At lunch India were 67-0, and that had become 175-0 at tea, with Karthik having retired hurt after suffering from cramps just before the break and being replaced in the middle by captain Rahul Dravid.

Dravid picked up where Karthik had left off, keeping Jaffer company as he played his way through to an excellent century from 185 balls. The score reached 281 before Jaffer was forced to do the same as Karthik, with the four hours he’d spent at the crease taking its toll.

Dravid then took control, playing a near-faultless innings to reach 88 not out at stumps, with Sachin Tendulkar at the other end on 9.

It was a day neither side was likely to be expecting. Better than India’s wildest dreams, worse than Bangladesh’s.

It looks like there’s another tough day in the field ahead for the home team.

India 326-0
Wasim Jaffer 138 (retired hurt), Rahul Dravid 88 no