Pathan relishes maiden five-wicket haul

The left-arm seamer on Friday preferred to see the brighter side of twice coming close to taking a hat-trick, which eluded him on both occasions.

Irfan Pathan on Friday relished the moment of his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket and preferred to see the brighter side of twice coming close to taking a hat-trick, which eluded him on both occasions.

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The 20-year-old said the dampness in the wicket, which had delayed the start of play till lunch, was of help.

"I did not think it was so wet, but it is good to take my first five wickets," said the left-arm seamer, who was playing in his ninth Test.

Pathan bowled an incisive spell that helped India shut out Bangladesh for 184 on the opening day of the first Test at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

He picked the second and third wickets off successive balls with the new ball and returned after the tea break to pick his fourth and fifth wickets off the last two balls in the second over after the break.

But on both the occasions, 20-year-old middle order batsman Mohammad Ashraful thwarted the Indian seamer.

Pathan said he did not consult Harbhajan Singh, the only other bowler in the team with a Test hat-trick.