Indian pacemen Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma did early damage to put Bangladesh under pressure in the opening Test in Chittagong, Bangladesh, yesterday.
Bangladesh were well placed at 53 for no loss before slipping to 59-3 at stumps on the second day in reply to India’s first-innings total of 243, with Zaheer taking two wickets in successive overs and Sharma one.
Raqibul Hasan was unbeaten on one and Mohammad Ashraful had yet to open his account when play was called off because of bad light. Only 24.5 overs were bowled because of poor weather yesterday.
Sachin Tendulkar earlier scored a superb 105 not out under pressure for his 44th Test century to boost India’s total. He cracked two sixes and 11 fours in his 166-ball knock.
Bangladesh then got off to a sound start, with left-handed openers Tamim Iqbal (31) and Imrul Kayes (23) playing some attractive shots against the Indian strike bowlers.
Iqbal was initially more aggressive, scoring 21 in the opening four overs before his partner opened his account.
Kayes outscored Iqbal after lunch, hitting Zaheer for two boundaries in an over and then driving Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for a four.
Zaheer broke the partnership when he removed Kayes, who was trapped leg-before while playing across the line. He then bowled Iqbal in his next over with a delivery that kept low.
Sharma’s lone victim was Shahriar Nafees, who was caught by Venkatsai Laxman at second slip after contributing only four.
India posted their lowest-ever total against Bangladesh despite Tendulkar’s century. Their previous lowest in a completed innings was 429 in Dhaka in 2000.
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