Tendulkar-Dravid centuries put India in command

more images

more images

DHAKA - Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid slammed hundreds and were involved in a world record of century partnerships as India ended the second day of the second cricket Test against Bangladesh at 459 for five, giving them a first-innings lead of 226 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium here Wednesday.

Tendulkar (143, 182 balls, 13×4, 1×6) and Dravid (111 retired hurt, 188 balls, 12×4) consolidated the position with a 222-run third-wicket partnership after a century opening stand between Gautam Gambhir (68) and Virender Sehwag (56).

Dravid retired after he was struck by a Shahadat Hossain bouncer.

It was a strong batting display by India as their top four batsmen struck half centuries, leaving the hosts worrying about the ignominy of a huge defeat.

At stumps, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was batting on 22, with Harbhajan Singh (13) falling to the last ball of the day.

It was Tendulkar’s 45th Test hundred, the second of the series, and it came off 134 balls with 10 fours. It was Dravid’s 29th hundred and came off 178 balls with 11 fours.

It is the 17th century stand between the two, a world record, surpassing the 16 three-figure partnerships by West Indian opening pair Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes and Australians Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer.

In fact, both Tendulkar and Dravid were lucky to get reprieved and the two made the most of the chances. Bangladesh have only themselves to blame as they dropped Tendulkar twice. Dravid, too, survived when he was caught off a no-ball.

Tendulkar, when on 27, edged Rubel Hossain, but Raqibul Hasan dropped him at gully. He brought up his 50 off 89 balls with four fours but soon hit Shahadat Hossain to Raqibul, who once again muffed the catch, though a tougher one to his left.

Tendulkar and Dravid comfortably surpassed the Bangladesh’s first innings total and went to tea with India leading by 68 runs.

The hosts, however, began the day on the right note as they tested the Indian openers with short-pitched deliveries. The move paid rich dividends and India lost both Gambhir and Sehwag before lunch.

Tendulkar and Dravid continued in the same vein.

Both Tendulkar and Dravid came down heavily on the spinners with the latter bringing up his fifty off 81 balls with seven fours.

Earlier, Gambhir and Sehwag put on 103 runs.

Sehwag, who resumed the day on 41, looked in ominous touch and soon reached his 50 off 51 balls with seven fours. But it was not long before Shahadat pitched a shorter one that caught Sehwag’s glove and went straight to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim. Sehwag’s 63-ball innings included eight fours.

Gambhir, who was gunning to equal Don Bradman’s record of six consecutive Test centuries, soon brought up his half century (60 balls, nine fours).

It was Gambhir’s 11th consecutive Test fifty which brings him on a par with West Indian great Vivian Richards.

Gambhir edged a bouncer from Shafiul Islam (2-70) to give an easy catch to wicketkeeper Rahim. Gambhir faced 83 balls and hit nine fours.

Dravid, after taking some time to settle, played fluently but was lucky to survive when on 28. A Rubel Hossain bouncer caught Dravid off-guard and he was caught by Junaid Siddique at slip even as umpire Billy Bowden signalled a no-ball.