Chittagong, Dec 18: India recovered from a middle order slump to post a mammoth first innings total and had Bangladesh in dire straits, taking three quick wickets on the second day of the second and final cricket Test against Bangladesh here today. After the heroics of century makers Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir, captain Sourav Ganguly held the innings together after a middle order collapse with a responsible 88 which took India to a commanding 540. 

The hosts began on a steady note without losing a wicket in the first 25 overs but lost their way as Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh claimed three wickets in the space of 26 balls to leave them tottering at 54 for three at stumps.

The hosts, who had struggled to match the standards of their opponents and buckled under the slightest hint of pressure, put up an improved performance in all departments of the game as they first checked the roll of Indian batting juggernaut with some tidy bowling and then batted with rare resilience to deny the visiting bowlers till the spinners inflicted the damage. India had to rely on the sensible batting by their skipper and some spectacular pyrotechnics by 'Turbanator' Harbhajan Singh to overcome an inexplicable middle-order collapse before being all out at the stroke of tea.

Bangladesh, needing 340 to avoid a follow-on, reached 54 for three, the loss of Nafis Iqbal (31) and nightwatchman Mashrafe Mortaza (4) somewhat spoiling an otherwise good day for the hosts. Captain Habibul Bashar, yet to open his account, was at the crease at stumps. Javed Omar blocked 78 balls and hit one four for his 10 before he went for a drive and edged Kumble to Dravid at slips towards close of play. Bashar had said on the eve of the match that he wanted his team to at least put up a fight, and his batsmen to see off the new ball. Iqbal and Omar did exactly that even as Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan surprisingly failed to find their rhythm and often strayed in their line.

With the pitch playing true, and although there was good bounce and turn, it was hard toil for the bowlers in general and the Bangladesh openers showed maturity in their shot selection to almost survive the evening session. Despite what the score line might indicate, it was overall an under-achieving batting by the Indians as they lost five wickets for 78 runs in the morning session and failed to consolidate on the good work done by Dravid and Gambhir. Right-arm fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza (3-60) triggered the collapse when he rapped Sachin Tendulkar (36) on the pads off the very first ball of the day.

Dravid (160) himself was guilty of a loose shot when he played away from the body for an edge to the wicket-keeper before V V S Laxman was dismissed in a controversial fashion. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique (4-156) appeared to grass the ball after taking a diving return catch of Laxman. Dinesh Kaarthick did not last long either, although he looked displeased at being adjudged caught behind to Rafique. Ganguly's sensible half-century, combined with Harbhajan's 47, then resurrected the Indian innings. Ganguly displayed calm while wickets fell rapidly at the other end before being caught at long-on as he went for big shots towards tea-break.

He faced 153 balls and hit nine fours during his 231-minute stay at the crease. Harbhajan's 43-ball 47, studded with seven fours and two sixes, fetched 75 runs for the ninth wicket partnership with Ganguly. The captain also received valuable support from Anil Kumble (23) as the two added 53 runs for the eighth wicket that lifted India from 412 for seven at one stage. Bangladesh then did well to reign in the free stroking Indians by claiming five wickets for 78 runs before Ganguly and Kumble did the repair job. Resuming at 334 for two, Tendulkar departed in dramatic circumstances after his concentration was affected by movements behind the bowler's head as he got ready to take strike.

Tendulkar (36) needed a few minutes to take his stance as he was disturbed by people moving in the press box. And when he finally settled down, Mortaza had him plumb in front with a sharp in cutter. Dravid, 145 overnight, seemed in good nick as he drove Mortaza off the pads to the midwicket fence. The vice-captain added 37 runs for the fourth wicket with Ganguly before he played away from the body for a snick. His 160 came from 304 balls and contained 24 fours. Mortaza's tidy opening spell of 6-2-18-2 checked the Indian scoring rate at one end but runs kept flowing at the other. Rafique then dealt three quick blows to push the visitors on the backfoot.

He first dived to take a brilliant return catch to dismiss Laxman (9) but he appeared to grass the ball as he landed. Kaarthick (11) was lucky when he was dropped by Manjural Islam Rana at first slip off Rafique but did not last long when he was ruled caught behind off the same bowler in the next over. Irfan Pathan (4) then played a wild heave to top edge Rafique and wicket-keeper Khaled Mashud did well to hold on to the skier. (Agencies)

Published: Saturday, December 18, 2004

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