India on top after day one of 2nd Test | Cricket - Hindustan Times
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India on top after day one of 2nd Test

PTI | ByPhilem Dipak Singh, Mirpur
Jan 24, 2010 05:09 PM IST

Mahmudullah Riad's grit was not enough as India skittled out Bangladesh for a modest total and then got off to a flying start to take early control of the second and final cricket Test in Mirpur on Sunday.

Mahmudullah Riad's grit was not enough as India skittled out Bangladesh for a modest total and then got off to a flying start to take early control of the second and final cricket Test in Mirpur on Sunday.

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The opening day belonged to India as Ishant Sharma (4/66) and Zaheer Khan (3/62) decimated the Bangladesh top and middle order to reduce the hosts to 127 for seven.

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Batting at number eight, Mahmudullah, however, refused to throw in the towel and showed exemplary grit, even though he was stranded four runs away from his maiden Test century as his side folded for 233.

Mahmudullah's was a sterling 156-ball knock studded with 13 fours. The last two wickets produced 78 crucial runs that lent some respectability to the home side's total.

In reply, India milked 69 runs off the 13 overs they faced with Virender Sehwag (41 off 40 balls) and Gautam Gambhir (26 off 38 balls) scoring at a brisk rate while staying put at stumps.

India would return tomorrow to first wipe out the 164 run deficits and then push for a big total to bat the hosts out of the match and complete a 2-0 rout in the series.

For the home side, Mahmadullah was the star of the day. Coming at the wicket when his side was at a precarious 106 for six, Mahmadullah, who scored 69 and 20 in the first Test in Chittagong, stitched two important partnerhips with the tailenders - 58 with Shafiul Islam (9) for the ninth wicket and 20 for the last wicket with Rubel Hossain (4) -- to frustrate the Indian bowlers for nearly three hours.

His side in dire straits, Mahmadullah waited for loose balls to punish the Indian bowlers with some delightful shots on either side of the wicket.

For India, Ishant and Zaheer shared seven wickets between them while left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who came in for Amit Mishra in the match, chipped in with two wickets while Harbhajn Singh, who returned to the side after missing the first Test due to a stiff neck, got one.

Bangladesh were tottering at 51 for five inside the first hour play today with most of their batsmen on self-destructive mode though the Indian bowlers were also impressive as they bowled a tight line and length under helpful conditions on the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium pitch.

Captain Shakib Al Hasan (34), opener Tamim Iqbal (0) and Ashraful (39) were out to rank bad shots and it was left to Mahmadullah to give a semblance of a fight which he did admirably well.

Shakib chose to bat after winning the toss but his decision boomeranged as his side lost three quick wickets for 13 runs inside the fifth over and their top half returned to the hut inside the first hour.

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