Zaheer rocks Bangladesh as India whitewash Bangladesh
By IANSWednesday, January 27, 2010
DHAKA - Zaheer Khan’s seven-wicket burst in the second innings rocked Bangladesh as India won the second cricket Test by 10 wickets, and with it took the series 2-0, on the fourth day at the Sher-e-Bangla national stadium here Wednesday.
The resolve shown by the Bangladesh batsmen a day before, when opener Tamim Iqbal struck a defiant 155 and Junaid Siddique 55, was not to be seen this day as the hosts crumbled from a comfortable 290 for three to 312 all out minutes after lunch. India needed just two runs in their second innings to win and completed the formalities with two byes.
It was the best career-performance of Zaheer (10-149), who became only the fourth Indian bowler to take 10 wickets in a Test match on a foreign soil.
The hosts left for lunch at 312 for nine, after losing six wickets for a mere 14 runs, and it needed Zaheer just three balls after the break to wrap up the Bangladesh innings.
Bangladesh, who began the day at 228 for three, bided the morning session with ease with overnight batsmen Mohammad Ashraful (25) and Shahadat Hossein (40) adding 68 runs for the fourth wicket. Hossein was let-off while on 33 with substitute fielder Amit Mishra dropping a sitter.
Harbhajan Singh gave India the breakthrough when he got Hossein to hit at the long on and Mishra was happy to oblige. Pragyan Ojha (2-77) then dismissed Ashraful and skipper Shakib Al Hasan.
Ashraful, unlike his blustery 39 in the first innings, was batting patiently but failed to read an Ojha delivery from round the wicket and was caught behind. Shakib (7), who began his innings hitting a straight six, soon swept one straight to Gautam Gambhir at square leg.
With Bangladesh reeling at 301 for six, Dhoni brought in Zaheer, who took three wickets in four balls to snuff out the Bangladesh challenge.
Zaheer first had Raqibul Hasan’s (5) bails rattled and a ball later it was the turn of Mahmudullah (0), who struck an unbeaten 96 in the first innings. He was caught by Murali Vijay, diving to his left at second slip.
Shafiul Islam’s (0) stumps were knocked off in the next ball and Zaheer took his first six-wicket haul before going for the lunch.
