India back in first Test against Bangladesh

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CHITTAGONG - India were back in the first Test after bowling out Bangladesh for 242 and then taking a 123-run lead on the third day here Tuesday.

Bangladesh were tottering at 118 for six before Mahmudullah (69) and Mushfiqur Rahim (44) fought back with a 108-run alliance.

But once the pair was separated, the hosts were bowled out after tea just a run short of India’s first innings total. Zaheer Khan (3-54), Amit Mishra (3-65), Ishant Sharma (2-47) and S.Sreesanth (2-55) all chipped in with wickets.

India reached 122 for one in the second innings with Gautam Gambhir batting at 47 and nightwatchman Amit Mishra at 24 when stumps were drawn early due to bad light.

Shakib Al Hasan (1-28) got the wicket of Virender Sehwag who made a quickfire 45 off 58 balls with the help four fours and a six.

Earlier, Zaheer and Ishant ripped the Bangladesh batting with three quick wickets in the morning. The two pacers were impressive as they extracted movement and bounce off the pitch to rattle the Bangladesh batting.

Resuming at 59 for three, Mohammad Ashraful (2) and Raqibul Hasan (17) could only add nine runs before Ashraful edged an Ishant delivery to Rahul Dravid at first slip.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan (17) paced up the scoring with four boundaries in the next four overs and just when he looked to settle down he slashed Zaheer over gully, only to be caught by Virender Sehwag.

Sreesanth came back to end Raqibul’s resistance, having him caught behind.

Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur dug their heels, with the hosts losing only two wickets in the second session.

They, in fact, looked well poised to take the first innings lead but Mushfiqur’s attempt to slog-sweep Mishra resulted in a top edge and Sehwag made no mistake in taking the catch a few minutes before tea. Mushfiqur’s struck six fours in his 104-ball innings.

Mishra soon got his second wicket when Shahadat Hossain holed out a catch to Yuvraj Singh at point.

Mahmudullah, who hit 11 fours in his 108-ball 69, was caught behind off Sreesanth.

Mishra got his third wicket when Shafiul Islam top-edged a delivery to Yuvraj Singh at point.