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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India in charge despite Tamim Iqbal fireworks

Bangladesh 233 and 228 for 3 (Tamim 151, Junaid 55) trail India 544 for 8 dec ( Tendulkar 143, Dravid 111, Dhoni 89, Gambhir 68, Sehwag 56) by 83 runs

Tamim Iqbal unleashed an array of brilliant counterattacking strokes on his way to a splendid 151 as Bangladesh posed an injury-ridden Indian side some searching questions on the third afternoon in Mirpur. Having come to bat 311 runs in arrears, Tamim was severe on pace and spin alike as Bangladesh stormed past 200 with just one wicket down. Junaid Siddique provided a solid 55 at the other end and their record partnership was worth 200 when Zaheer Khan broke through just before stumps. And reverse swing was once again the key factor as Tamim too feathered one behind in the day's penultimate over.

India had declared at their lunch score of 544 for 8, after MS Dhoni's search for a century was ended by a smart stumping from Mushfiqur Rahim, but any hopes of a quick finish were blown away by the ferocity of Tamim's onslaught. He started off by steering Zaheer through the slip cordon for four and the loss of Imrul Kayes - he mistimed one to cover after being struck by a nasty bouncer - did nothing to hamper his progress. Ishant Sharma was slashed over slip and pulled for four, while Zaheer found his slower ball clouted down the ground. Pragyan Ojha was greeted with a saunter down the track and heave for four, and a deft paddle took him to 50 from just 49 balls.

Harbhajan Singh was the most economical of the bowlers on view, but even he wasn't spared, with Tamim swinging a four and a six over midwicket. The six brought up the hundred of the innings, and a lovely on-drive off Ishant followed. With Junaid clipping some neat strokes through midwicket, the partnership was worth 99 by tea. There was no respite for the Indians after the break either, with Tamim hitting Ojha out of the attack with two fours and a six slugged over midwicket.

A pull to fine leg off Zaheer took him to a hundred from just 101 balls, and he celebrated with two imperious straight drives. Harbhajan was then smeared through the covers twice, and sent a fair distance over long-on for six. The only blot came after he had made 138, an ugly heave off Virender Sehwag that Sachin Tendulkar couldn't quite latch on to at midwicket. He injured himself in the attempt and left the field, and India spent the final hour with the spinners bowling mostly wide of off stump in an attempt to entice the reckless stroke. It was Zaheer that finally gave Dhoni something to smile about, with Siddique getting a faint edge as he attempted to drive.

Earlier, India added 85 to their overnight total, with Dhoni's 89 quite similar in character to the innings he played against Sri Lanka at the Brabourne Stadium in December. With Rahul Dravid just discharged from hospital and about to head back to India, and Yuvraj Singh nursing an injured ligament in his left hand, India's batting resources were depleted, but with Bangladesh adopting confused tactics against the lower order, Dhoni was able to combine watchfulness with some typically brutal strokeplay.

His intentions had been clear when play resumed, with Shafiul Islam clubbed for a one-handed four over midwicket. And though Zaheer fell, miscuing a hook to fine leg, Dhoni was undaunted, walloping Shakib Al Hasan over long-off for six. By then, he had already changed his bat, and a wide offering from Shafiul was soon carved through the offside for four more.

Shahadat Hossain, who had troubled some of the top order with pace and bounce, was especially disappointing, with even Ishant putting loose deliveries away for boundaries. Dhoni combined clever deflections with powerful cleaves, and a loft over midwicket off Rubel Hossain took him to his half-century from 84 balls.

Ishant eventually edged Mohammad Ashraful behind, but the Bangladeshi ordeal was far from over. With a landmark in sight, Dhoni shielded Ojha and targeted the wayward balls. Mahmudullah was thumped over cover for four and then over wide long-on for six and with Ashraful's legspin also not making a dent, it was a depressing morning for the hosts. Fortunately for the vociferous crowd, Tamim's Catherine-wheel shotmaking changed the mood completely after lunch.

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Ishant: I learnt to be patient

India pacer Ishant Sharma on Sunday said that after he was ignored for the Lanka series, he has become more patient.

Ishant said, even though it was hard for him to swallow the ignore from the home Test series against Sri Lanka late last year, the experience has taught him to be more patient.

Addressing the media after the opening day's play in the second Test against Bangladesh, Ishant said the selectors were also right in dropping him from the subsequent home ODI series against the Lankans as he did not deserve to be a part of the squad.

"It was a very hard time for me in those days (when he was dropped). I was desperate to play for the country. It was the first time I was experiencing that because for the last three years my career has been only on the up but off late I learnt that I should be patient in life as well as while bowling," said Ishant, who took four Bangladeshi wickets in the first innings.

"I don't think the kind of form I was in at that time I deserved a place in the ODI side (against Sri Lanka). I thank the selectors for that.

"I don't think I have any technical flaw. It (being dropped) is part and parcel of any cricketer's life. You have to face it. It was a challenge. I am happy that I learnt to be patient during the hard times," he added.

Ishant also thanked his Delhi teammate Virender Sehwag for his support during the lean period. Ishant feels the the dashing opener played a part in his comeback bid in the playing XI.
"Moreover, all the senior players helped me a lot when I made my comeback. I want to thank Viru (Sehwag) as I think he had a role to play in my selection in the first Test in Chittagong," he said.

The gangling pacer said that the new bowling coach Eric Simons helped him in gaining back his rhythm.

"I think I have got back my rhythm. It is really good to get the rhythm back at the beginning of the season because a big series against South Africa is coming next month. It is good for me and for the team as we all are looking forward to the series," said the 21-year-old right-arm fast bowler.

"I am working on my bowling with Eric Simons. He tells me about my wrist and my bowling. So far it has been good. Let us see how it goes against South Africa," said Ishant.

Ishant said he was happy that Indian bowlers did a good job by bowling at the right areas.
"It was a good toss to lose as the wicket was damp in the morning with some dew. We bowled at the right areas and we remained patient for the wickets. You need to be patient to get wickets," he said.

"We bowled at the right areas and kept applying pressure on them," he added.

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Seamers give India early advantage

India 69 for 0 trail Bangladesh 233 (Mahmudullah 96*, Ishant 4-66, Zaheer 3-62) by 164 runs

An impressive unbeaten 96 from Mahmudullah rescued the Bangladesh innings from utter ignominy, but the starts squandered by other batsmen were threatening to haunt them by day's end, as India knocked off 69 runs from just 13 overs, with Virender Sehwag cruising to 41 not out. With the conditions likely to be most batsmen-friendly on the second day, Bangladesh were left to reflect on an opportunity squandered after winning the toss. Both Mohammad Ashraful and Shakib Al Hasan got out to appalling strokes, and it was left to Mahmudullah to lead Bangladesh to 233 all out, a significant improvement on the 51 for 5 that the scoreboard showed when Ashraful had his brain fade.

The last two wickets added 78, with Shafiul Islam defying India for 39 balls and Rubel Hossain keeping out 25 before Harbhajan Singh sneaked one through his defence to leave Mahmudullah stranded. He had struck two fours in a Harbhajan over to get within touching distance, but after nearly 30 overs of batting with No.10 and Jack, his luck ran out. As he walked off though, several Indian fielders ran up to shake his hand. It had been that kind of innings.

He had marked his guard after Mushfiqur Rahim, centurion in Chittagong, had been trapped on the crease by Ishant Sharma. He eased nerves with a neat glance for four off Zaheer Khan and then continued to go for his shots once Shakib had chased a wide one from Zaheer into the hands of MS Dhoni. Zaheer was then pulled and upper-cut for four and after Shahadat Hossain went, stumped off the bowling of Pragyan Ojha, he swept and reverse-swept Harbhajan to keep the Indians on their toes.

A cover-drive that Ojha couldn't stop at the boundary took him to his half-century from 71 balls, and he continued to sweep and cut as Shafiul offered stout resistance at one end. It was all a far cry from the morning, when one batsman after another appeared to be in a hurry to get back to the comforts of the pavilion.

They were not helped by the first decision going against them either. Ishant's first ball, the seventh of the innings, was heading down the leg side when it deflected off something on its way to Dhoni's gloves. The Indians went up in appeal, and so did Billy Bowden's crooked finger, though replays subsequently showed that the ball had brushed Imrul Kayes' thigh pad.

Tamim Iqbal had walked the talk on the eve of the game, but the only walking he did was on his way back, bowled off the pad after a statuesque waft against a Zaheer delivery that nipped back. Soon after, Junaid Siddique, who had replaced Shahriar Nafees at No.3, followed him, gloving a pull down the leg side for Dhoni to take. Troubled by the short ball, his attempt to hit his way out of trouble came to naught.

Ashraful was having a go at everything pitched up to him, and while there were a couple of fortuitous inside edges, he also played superb strokes off his pads and through cover. But the innings still lacked any hint of stability, with Raqibul Hasan's vigil ended by a thick edge off Ishant that Rahul Dravid took easily at second slip. Pushed back by a succession of short balls, Raqibul couldn't resist the one pitched up.

Ojha came on in the 13th over and Ashraful announced his intentions with a flail through the covers. This though is a batsman who shows no sign of maturity even after eight years as a Test cricketer, and a headless-chicken charge off the next delivery presented Dhoni with the simplest of stumpings. He had made 39 from just 31 balls.

Mushfiqur carried on where he left off in Chittagong with some pleasing drives and cuts either side of lunch, and Shakib followed suit, but it was left to Mahmudullah to surpass the 69 he made in Chittagong and bring something substantial to the proceedings.

Sehwag came out in typically forthright fashion, cutting, driving and working the ball off his toes as the runs accumulated at a fair clip. And after a sedate start, Gambhir joined in with some attacking strokes as the most prolific opening pair in world cricket set about showing Bangladesh's top order just how to build a Test innings.

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Bangladesh no more in awe of India, says Tamim

Tamim Iqbal, the Bangladesh opener, has said the home team respects India but are not in awe of them any more. He also said that Bangladesh were slowly learning how to play Test cricket and their improvement would be evident the more quality opposition they played.

"Previously, you used to feel you are playing Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag and were in awe. Now, we just play each other as other players," he said on the eve of the second Test. "That is one of the positives and an improvement. The main factor for this turnaround in attitude is the coach Jamie Siddons. We truly believe in him. He was the main guy in changing the attitude. And obviously the more the matches we play, [the] better our cricket gets."

Certain sections of the media have been playing up the sledging issue - Mushfiqur Rahim had said he was called a "school boy" by the Indians in Chittagong - but Tamim sought to clarify his stand on the issue. "Let me make it clear that it's just part of the game," he said. "Both teams have a great relationship with each other and we get along very well off the field."

Tamim said he was learning and enjoying the challenge of playing Test cricket. "In ODIs, you can survive but in Tests need you to be on top of the game. It's a great challenge. I am a batsman who likes to bat less balls for more runs. And I am trying to change that for Tests. I am concentrating on batting long and I know if I stay there, runs will come."

Tamim got starts in both the innings of the first Test, but was done in by an incutter from Zaheer Khan in the first innings and edged an expansive drive in the second off Sehwag. "It was interesting. I always used to keep talking to myself just before I bat. It's a routine," he said on his learning curve. "The one ball I didn't do that, I got out. It's a matter of focus and concentration. I played 122 ball ... one ball I didn't say anything I got out. I like to attack the loose deliveries and its a matter of getting the balance right. I am learning and soon I will get it right. I really want to do well in Test cricket."

Tamim was also asked about the Bangladesh Cricket Board president's views that the players lacked commitment, but he chose to remain silent on the issue. "No comments. I really wouldn't want to say anything on that. Let's talk about something else."

He also rallied behind Shariar Nafees and Mohammad Ashraful who have been struggling for runs. "Nafees is just coming back after a long time. Its always difficult to come back. He needs some time. Ashraful too is a very good player. He has hit five hundreds and he will score very soon."

Tamim felt that if Bangladesh did not commit the mistakes they did in the first Test, they can expect a positive result in the second. "We are an inexperienced Test side and we are learning," he said. "Some days our batting clicks, some days our bowling clicks. We have to get more consistent."

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'They still didn't get 20 wickets' - Sehwag

Virender Sehwag has reiterated his stand that Bangladesh are not good enough to take 20 wickets against India.

It was another grim press conference where he initially refused to entertain any questions on his statement on Bangladesh's bowling, but eventually Sehwag decided to answer. "Next question," was his reply when the topic was first raised by a journalist. Finally he answered, albeit in monosyllables, when the issue was repeatedly brought up.

Asked whether he felt Bangladesh could now take 20 Indian wickets, Sehwag's answer came pat: "No. They can't. They still didn't get 20 wickets."

Bangladesh took eight second-innings wickets, an 18 overall, before India declared their second innings. The next question was whether the declaration was done so that Bangladesh did not take 20 wickets. "I had to declare because I wanted to win the game," Sehwag said before he let out a smile.

Sehwag was also asked his thoughts on Bangladesh's performance and he said, "They didn't bat well. They bowled well in the first innings because the conditions helped them. We batted well in the second innings and scored over 400 runs."

The talk moved to India's performance and about Ishant Sharma's bowling before it returned once again to the same issue. "You don't have a good record against Bangladesh. You said you wanted to score some runs this time. Are you satisfied with your batting in this Test?"

"Yes, I am," was Sehwag's short answer.

"He batted well," was his response when asked about Mushfiqur Rahim's innings today. Just before he came to the press conference, Sehwag was booed as he walked up to talk to Ravi Shastri in the post-match ceremony. "You are very popular here, aren't you," Shastri asked.

"Yes, Indian cricketers are popular here in Bangladesh," replied Sehwag.

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India wrap up victory in Chittagong

India blew Bangladesh away with a strong display in the field, wrapping up a 113-run win over the hosts on the final day of the first Test in Chittagong.
Ishant Sharma gave India early breakthroughs in the morning, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan chipped in with vital wickets and Amit Mishra completed a four-wicket haul as India cantered to victory with a session to spare.

Mushfiqur Rahim had delayed the end with a stroke-filled 101 after opener Tamim Iqbal bolstered the innings with a knock of 52, but the home side - 67 for two at the start of play - were bowled out for 301.

A diligent approach was required of the home side if they were to save the game, but instead their batsmen played into India's hands with an aggressive approach.

Zaheer opened proceedings for India and overnight batsman Mohammad Ashraful slashed the left-arm seamer for off-side boundaries in consecutive overs.

But that attacking intent was nipped in the bud when the former Bangladesh captain attempted to drive Ishant on the up, only for an edge to be neatly snapped up by Rahul Dravid at second slip.

Victory for India then seemed a foregone conclusion when Raqibul Hasan, who suffered a painful rap on the elbow, was trapped in front by Ishant with a delivery that nipped in.

Tamim helped Bangladesh recover somewhat from those early blows, the opener hammering a wayward Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for two boundaries in one over and reaching his third Test half-century with a reverse sweep of Mishra.

But Sehwag brought himself on just before the lunch interval and struck in his second over, luring Tamim into a wild slash and inducing the edge, Dravid completing the dismissal with a sharp catch at slip.

Shakib Al Hasan was Mishra's first victim of the day, the Bangladesh captain deceived by the googly, and Mahmudullah went shortly after, losing an entertaining - and at times verbal - battle with Zaheer.

Shahadat Hossain and Mushfiqur held up the end with a 60-run stand for the eighth wicket, but Mishra ended that stand, boring through Shahadat's defensives and bowling him through the gate.

Mishra should have had another wicket soon after, but Yuvraj grassed a simple catch from Shafiul Islam, extending the tailenders stay.

But that reprieve hardly proved costly as Mishra held a low return catch from Shafiul in the next over to send back the batsman.

The home side had slipped to 258 for nine by then and the session was extended and the tea interval delayed.

With an attacking field in place, runs were there for the taking and Mushfiqur cashed in, reaching his maiden century with a straight-driven boundary off Mishra, his 17th boundary.

He had already smashed a six by then and had reached the milestone off only 112 deliveries, the fastest century by a Bangladesh batsman.

Mishra, however, brought up victory by prising out Mushfiqur, the wicketkeeper-batsman lofting the bowler over the top, but only finding the fielder at long-off.

Mishra finished the pick of the bowlers with four for 92 from 22.2 overs.
The teams:

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Shahriar Nafees, Mohammad Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan (C), Raquibul Hassan, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (W), Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam

India: Virender Sehwag (C), Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Karthik (W), Amit Mishra, Sreesanth, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma

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India hit back on truncated day

Stumps Bangladesh 59 for 3 (Zaheer 2-32, Ishant 1-14) trail India 243 (Tendulkar 105*, Sehwag 52, Shakib 5-62, Shahadat 5-71) by 184 runs

Bangladesh's collapse, like India's, started in the 15th over. India lost three wickets for six runs, Bangladesh lost three for five. India had 79 runs on the board before their collapse, Bangladesh 59. India continued collapsing, bad light granted Bangladesh stay orders. In fact the murky conditions allowed only 24.5 overs of play in the whole day, which means 90.1 overs have been lost on the first two days.

After Sachin Tendulkar reached his 44th Test century, scoring 29 of India's 30 runs on the second day, Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes provided Bangladesh a solid and quick start, reaching 38 in eight overs. The coming together of Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma reduced scoring opportunities, the batsmen started playing and missing, surviving lbw shouts, and two runs in three overs resulted in Kayes slashing outside off, a shot that told the bowlers they were not far off a wicket.

One more close lbw shout against Kayes later, Zaheer got one full and straight enough, and caught him on the crease. Shahriar Nafees, coming back from the ICL, top-edged a pull second ball, and then found Ishant to be too good for him. The ball landed on middle, back of a length, and then nipped away. Nafees had to play at it, and the movement squared him up, taking a healthy edge. In the next over, Zaheer, by now frustrated at missing the edge repeatedly, got one to nip in, squeeze under Tamim's bat, and take the off stump.

In 11 balls, Bangladesh had gone from hoping to dominate India to hoping for a Tendulkar-like stay to carry their fledgling innings. Tendulkar it was who added some respectability to India's total, scoring 105 runs out of the 164 scored since he came to the crease. Resuming on 76 on the second morning, he manoeuvred the strike well and scored his 89th international century. Shakib Al Hasan and Shahadat Hossain reached five-fors - for Shakib, a sixth five-wicket haul in 15 Tests.

Bangladesh came in with the mindset of attacking Nos 10 and 11, and hoping that Tendulkar wouldn't cause irreversible damage in the meantime. In the first four overs, Tendulkar let Ishant play just six balls, only one of which troubled him. And during those four overs, with the field coming up for the last two balls, Tendulkar hit 2, 4, 1, 4, and 6 to get into the 90s. Shahadat then moved round the stumps and the change of angle proved to be too much for Ishant to handle, who edged a delivery going across.

Sreesanth got a single first ball, and Tendulkar reached his century off the last two balls of that Shahadat over - Shakib was seen applauding Tendulkar's effort. At the other end, Sreesanth didn't look overly comfortable against Shakib who got alarming turn, but somehow saw off one over. Shahadat did his bit by bowling a wide yorker and keeping Tendulkar at his end. In the next over, Shakib got a leading edge that ended India's innings.

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