Wednesday, January 27, 2010

India storm to series win in Dhaka

Zaheer Khan destroyed Bangladesh with a seven-wicket haul as India claimed a comprehensive 10-wicket win on the fourth day of the second Test in Dhaka.

Bangladesh had appeared well set to leave India chasing a sizeable target, but instead Zaheer triggered a dramatic collapse by snaring four wickets in eight balls as Bangladesh - nicely poised on 290 for three at one stage - were bowled out for 312, a lead of just one run over India's first-innings total of 544 for eight declared.

India then knocked off the two runs required to win without fuss, completing an astonishing win with a day and close to two full sessions to spare.

Night-watchman Shahadat Hossain had frustrated the visitors with a stroke-filled 40 and Mohammad Ashraful made 25, the pair batting well past the first drinks interval and adding 68 for the fourth wicket.

Shahadat's belligerent innings ensured the home side lost none of the momentum they had gained yesterday and left India frustrated.

With Ashraful holding up one end with a cautious approach, Shahadat was given license to go for his shots and he pegged India's bowlers on the back foot with an attacking display.

Zaheer and Ishant Sharma opened proceedings for India, but the pair failed to secure the breakthrough in their first spells and Shahadat put Pragyan Ojha under pressure by hitting the left-arm spinner for a towering six in his first over.

Harbhajan was brought on in the final over before the first drinks break and Shahadat enjoyed a reprieve on 33 when Amit Mishra put down a simple catch in the deep, but that lapse did not prove too costly.

Shahadat attempted to hit Harbhajan over long-on, failed to find elevation and Mishra made no mistake with the catch.

Ojha then removed Ashraful in the next over, the batsman feathering an edge to Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

And the home side then showed familiar signs of imploding when Shakib Al Hasan fell cheaply.

The Bangladesh captain hit Ojha for a straight six off the first ball he faced, but perished in Ojha's next over, sweeping the left-arm spinner straight to Gautam Gambhir at short square leg.

Zaheer was brought back for his third spell just before the lunch interval and he made further inroads by bowling Raqibul Hasan, the batsman shouldering arms to a delivery that nipped back in and knocked back off stump.

Mahmudullah was then snapped up in the slips, Murali Vijay pulling off a one-handed catch low down to his left and Shafiul Islam was bowled first ball to another delivery that nipped back in.

Bangladesh were still seven runs in arrears at that stage but Mushfiqur Rahim ensured India would have to bat again by clubbing Harbhajan for two boundaries in one over.

But Zaheer returned to dismissed Rubel in the first over of the afternoon session, ensuring a minuscule target for India's depleted batting attack.

Zaheer finished with a career-best seven for 87, finishing the match with a 10-wicket haul.

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2 comments:

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  2. i like such posts about sport and sportsmen. my son was watching all games of this team and he like it.i read about them here www.proof-reading.services it was great team.


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