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India takes lead after a hard-fought win

K.C. Vijaya Kumar

Ishant, Mishra strike it rich; Mushfiqur notches up a valiant hundred for the host

— PHOTO: AFP

CASTLED: Shahadat Hossain has no clue to this one from Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra on the final day of the first Test.

Chittagong: A thick blanket of fog gradually faded away as the skies cleared and bright sunshine streaked in. Perhaps it was symbolic of the manner in which India cast aside its diffident start over five days to eventually embrace victory in the first Test against Bangladesh at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here on Thursday.

Playing with the twin purpose of salvaging pride and batting out time while gaping at an imposing target of 415, Bangladesh never recovered after Ishant Sharma prised out Mohammad Ashraful and Raqibul Hasan during his morning spell of 7-3-11-2.

The host was bowled out for 301 in its second innings and India won by 113 runs to lead the two-Test series 1-0.

There was no mistaking India’s steady tread towards victory as there was enough time to snuff out Bangladesh’s nascent hopes of offering dour resistance despite a 60-minute delayed start.

Maiden century

However, the host’s vice-captain Mushfiqur Rahim had other plans and played a fire-fighting knock of 101 (114b, 17x4, 1x6). His maiden hundred delayed India’s much-anticipated third successive Test victory and first since emerging as the No. 1 Test team.

Resuming at 67 for two and still needing another 348 runs to score an improbable victory, Bangladesh soon realised that there is no scope for fairytales in Test cricket though the last time it played a match, victory and joy were inextricable.

Last July at St. George’s in the West Indies, Bangladesh had snatched a four-wicket victory to seal a 2-0 series triumph. That historic triumph however came against a West Indies team weakened by the absence of its regular players due to a salary stalemate.

Against an Indian team relishing its No. 1 tag and yet searching for an intimidating rhythm on this tour, the Bangladesh batsmen failed to stand and stabilise, though Mushfiqur proved to be an exception.

Incisive spells

Zaheer Khan and Ishant, bowled incisive morning spells and a wicket was on the cards as Ashraful found a streaky four through the slips.

Zaheer and Ishant bowled close to the stumps and with movement in the air and off the pitch, harried leaden-footed batsmen.

A besieged Ashraful finally flashed outside the off-stump and Rahul Dravid pocketed the catch and Ishant was running hot. The lanky speedster then softened up Raqibul with one that banged into the batsman’s left elbow and then darted in a delivery to strike the pad.

Opener Tamim Iqbal though continued unfettered, finding enough time to regulate his bat speed and drive S. Sreesanth straight down the ground after shaping to play through covers.

Iqbal’s 52 (122b, 6x4) offered some respite to a host dressing room that was resigned to an inevitable defeat. The opener, however, launched into an airy drive off Virender Sehwag and perished.

In the afternoon session, host captain Shakib Al Hasan was surprised by Amit Mishra’s googly. Mishra began with too many loose deliveries before slowly bowling a better line to spin a few leg-breaks past tentative bats.

Mahumudullah and Zaheer then got enmeshed in a tussle of verbal barbs and bouncers. Eventually the Indian spearhead dismissed the Bangladesh all-rounder with a delivery that maintained a lower altitude and drew a sheepish cut.

Delaying the inevitable

However, Mushfiqur played aggressively to delay the inevitable and along with him the tail wagged furiously. Mushfiqur pulled Zaheer, swatted Mishra, deflected Ishant past gully, slammed Sreesanth over mid-wicket and played with abandon in a lost cause. Among his support cast, Shahadat Hossain, Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain spent a few minutes at the crease as Mushfiqur notched up a deserving hundred before holing out in the deep.

For the Indians, it was time to celebrate though two dropped catches by skipper Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh and the speedsters’ loss of ideas against the tail, will have a sobering effect ahead of the second Test at Dhaka from January 24. Sachin Tendulkar was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his century that revived the Indian first innings.

Laxman ruled out

Meanwhile, V.V.S. Laxman has been ruled out of the remainder of the tour and will leave for India on Friday.

The middle-order batsman had suffered an injury on his left hand, while trying to pouch Shahriar Nafees off Zaheer on the fourth day of the first Test here on Wednesday.

An injured Laxman walked away then and was conspicuous by his absence on the fifth and final day of the match.

“Laxman is going back to India and there will not be any replacement in the squad,” said Indian team manager Arshad Ayub.

SCOREBOARD

India - 1st innings: 243.

Bangladesh - 1st innings: 242.

India - 2nd innings: 413 for eight decl.

Bangladesh - 2nd innings: T. Iqbal c Dravid b Sehwag 52 (122b, 6x4), I. Kayes c Karthik b Zaheer 1 (6b), S. Nafees c Sehwag b Ishant 21 (27b, 3x4), M. Ashraful c Dravid b Ishant 27 (32b, 5x4), Raqibul lbw b Ishant 13 (30b, 2x4), Shakib c Sehwag b Mishra 17 (47b, 2x4), Mushfiqur c sub (Ojha) b Mishra 101 (114b, 17x4, 1x6), Mahmudullah c Karthik b Zaheer 20 (25b, 4x4), Shahadat b Mishra 24 (30b, 5x4), Shafiul c & b Mishra 8 (11b, 1x6), Rubel (not out) 4 (14b); Extras (b-4, lb-3, nb-6): 13. Total (in 75.2 overs): 301.

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Kayes), 2-47 (Nafees), 3-79 (Ashraful), 4-97 (Raqibul), 5-135 (Tamim), 6-145 (Shakib), 7-170 (Mahmudullah), 8-230 (Shahadat), 9-258 (Shafiul).

India bowling: Zaheer 20-5-90-2, Sreesanth 12.2-0-53-0, Ishant 15-4- 48-3, Mishra 22.2-3-92-4, Sehwag 4- 1-7-1, Yuvraj 1.4-1-4-0.

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