India wrap up first Test
Bangladesh blown away as India claim an easy victory in Chittagong.
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| Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan avoids a bouncer as his side slump to defeat [AFP] |
Amit Mishra and Ishant Sharma shared seven wickets in India’s crushing 113-run victory over Bangladesh in the first Test in Chittagong.
Leg-spinner Mishra finished with 4-92 and paceman Sharma took 3-48 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 301 in their second innings before tea on the final day while chasing an improbable target of 415 runs.
The only consolation for Bangladesh was an entertaining 101 by wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim, who smashed one six and 17 fours in his maiden Test century.
Rahim completed his hundred off 112 balls, the fastest by a Bangladeshi in Tests, before becoming the last man to be dismissed when he holed out in the deep off Mishra.
Brave attempt
Rahim, 21, gave spectators plenty to cheer about with his exciting strokeplay, once hammering Sharma for 14 runs in an over and then hitting paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for a six and a boundary off successive balls.
He was involved in a rollicking 60-run stand for the eighth wicket with Shahadat Hossain (24), which ended when Shahadat failed to read Mishra’s googly and was bowled.
But Rahim’s knock came too late for Bangladesh as India were virtually assured of victory after reducing the hosts to 170-7 in the afternoon session.
India captain Virender Sehwag, standing in for the injured Mahendra Singh Dhoni, said he was delighted by the win.
“Our bowlers did a fantastic job, Zaheer (Khan) and Ishant especially, after we were bowled out for 243,” Sehwag said at the post-match ceremony.
“It was a good pitch, it had nice carry, turn and bounce. We must continue to play good cricket, and if we do that, we can easily win the next match.”
The second and final Test starts in Dhaka on Sunday.
Costly collapse
Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan rued the collapse in the first innings, but praised his team’s bowlers.
“We did not bat well in the first innings and that led to our downfall,” said Shakib.
“We played too many rash shots outside the off stump, we need to work on it.
“We should have taken a lead of 100 runs, hopefully next time we will bat better, the way Mushfiqur did today. He was brilliant.
“There are a lot of lessons to be learnt.”
| Final day scorecard |
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India 243 Bangladesh 242 all out India second innings 413-8 declared Bangladesh second innings |
Bangladesh’s chances of saving the match receded sharply when they lost three wickets in the morning after adding only 69 to their overnight total of 67-2, with Sharma taking two and part-time off-spinner Virender Sehwag one.
India strengthened their position when Mishra had key batsman Shakib (17) caught by Sehwag at silly point a few overs after lunch.
India began on an impressive note, with Sharma removing Mohammad Ashraful and Raqibul Hasan in a lively opening spell and Sehwag dismissing well-set Tamim Iqbal (52) to put the hosts under pressure.
Iqbal, caught by Rahul Dravid in the slips just before lunch, executed some handsome shots during his 122-ball knock. He reached his third Test half-century when he reverse-swept Mishra for his sixth four.
Sharma struck in the day’s fourth over when he had Ashraful caught by Dravid at second slip after the batsman added only 11 to his overnight score of 16.
Raqibul (13) was beaten by the movement before being trapped leg-before by Sharma, leaving his team struggling at 97-4.
Veteran Sachin Tendulkar was named man of the match for his century in the first innings, the 44th Test hundred of his record-breaking career.