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India cruising after disconcerting start against Bangladesh

Wasim Jaffer looks back after being bowled by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza on the first ball of the first cricket Test in Chittagong, Bangladesh, yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Dinesh Karthik and Rahul Dravid scored half centuries in the first session yesterday as India overcame a disconcerting start to cruise to 181 for three wickets at tea on the opening day of the first cricket Test.

Bangladesh's Mashrafee Bin Mortaza bowled opener Wasim Jaffer with the very first ball of the Test at Chittagong after India captain Dravid won the toss and elected to bat first on a hard and dry pitch.

Karthik and Dravid quickly put the early dismissal behind them, combining for a second wicket stand of 124.

Their partnership ended as India lost two quick wickets when play resumed after lunch, and a 55-minute delay due to rain.

Karthik was caught by Mohammad Ashraful at mid-off trying to hook a bouncer off Mortaza, then Shahadat Hossain had Dravid caught behind by Khaled Mashud.

Karthik brought up his 56 off 102 balls with eight boundaries, while Dravid had 61 runs off 99 deliveries with 11 fours.

Sachin Tendulkar was unbeaten on 35 at the break with former captain Saurav Ganguly on 16.

Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar, who is recovering from a fever, was rested after lunch and replaced by substitute Mehrab Hossain, playing in his first Test.

Bangladesh fielded four specialist bowlers for the Test, while India chose to go with five bowlers on a slightly overcast humid day in this southeastern port city.

Bangladesh allrounder Shakib al Hasan and Indian spinner Romesh Powar made their Test debuts Friday at the Shahid Ruhul Amin Stadium.

India left out Yuvraj Singh, Munaf Patel, V. V. S. Laxman and Rajesh Pawar from the final lineup. Illness-plagued Bangladesh rested Tushar Imran, Syed Rasel and Mehrab Hossain.

Injured Indian fast bowler Munaf Patel, meanwhile, will return home due to a back injury. He will be replaced by uncapped Ishant Sharma, Indian cricket officials announced.

India made up for its early World Cup exit — thanks largely to a shock loss to Bangladesh — by winning this tour's three-match limited overs series 2-0 after the third match was abandoned on Tuesday.
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