India declare at 544/8 after Dhoni’s fall

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DHAKA - Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck a half century as India declared their first innings at 544 for eight at lunch on the third day of the second Test against Bangladesh here Tuesday.

Dhoni scored 89 off 167 deliveries with the help of nine fours and two sixes. he was dismissed off the last ball before lunch, stumped off part-timer Raqibul Hasan.

India have a lead of 311 runs.

Sachin Tendulkar (143) and Rahul Dravid (111) had scored centuries Monday and Dhoni carried on Tuesday to bat Bangladesh out of the match.

Resuming at 459 for five, India added 85 runs in 30.1 overs in the morning session.

India lost Zaheer Khan for a duck when he pulled a short delivery from pacer Shafiul Islam (3-86) straight to Shahadat Hossain at the fine leg boundary.

Dhoni struck the first boundary of the day when he lofted Shafiul over midwicket.

Dhoni then stepped up the attack and came down the track to hit Shakib straight down the ground for a six. He struck Shahadat Hossain for two successive fours.

Dhoni got good support from Ishant Sharma (13) and the duo added 51 runs for the seventh wicket.

After Ishant was dismissed by Mohammad Ashraful, Dhoni and Pragyan Ojha (1) scored 26 runs.