India in Bangladesh

[Pintu]

This thread will update on India's ongoing two match series in Bangladesh also the tri series played there and dissected from Cricket thread :

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The Press Association: Sri Lanka ring changes

Sri Lanka ring changes

(UKPA) – 2 hours ago

Sri Lanka have omitted veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and bowlers Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis for next month's tri-nations series in Bangladesh.

The selectors named a new-look 15-man squad for the series, which also involves India.

There was also no place for Chamara Kapugedara, while Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews, Muttiah Muralitharan and Dilhara Fernando have missed out through injury.

Sri Lanka suffered a recent Test and one-day series defeat to India.

A statement on www.srilankacricket.lk read: "Selectors must be given credit for giving fresh legs a great opportunity to prove themselves in the forthcoming tour of Bangladesh.

"We will miss the services of our established players nursing injuries, after a tiring Indian series, while some have been given a rest to think about their game and get back into form, sooner rather than later."

Sri Lanka will play their first game of the series against Bangladesh in Dhaka on January 4.

Sri Lanka squad: Kumar Sangakkara (captain and wicket keeper), Tillakaratne Dilshan (vice-captain), Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Silva, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thissara Perera, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Malinga Bandara, Suraj Randiv, Thilan Thushara, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Kulasekara and Chanaka Welegedara.

 

[Pintu]

India beat Sri Lanka to move in to the final of tri nation series in Dhaka :
HT Link:

India beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets, reach final- Hindustan Times


Scorecard link of cricbuzz :

http://live1.cricbuzz.com/livecricketscore/2010/2010_BAN_TRISERIES/IND_SL_JAN10/scorecard_frame.html

Regards

 

[Pintu]

AFP: Kohli steers India to victory with century

Kohli steers India to victory with century

(AFP) – 39 minutes ago

DHAKA — Virat Kohli cracked a brisk century to power India to an easy six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the last triangular one-day series match in Dhaka on Monday.

Kohli made an unbeaten 102 for his second one-day hundred as India surpassed Bangladesh's 247-6 with seven overs to spare in the day-night match.

Sri Lanka and India, who had already qualified for Wednesday's final, finished their league engagements with three victories from four matches. Bangladesh lost all of their four games.

India got off to a solid start when Gautam Gambhir (41) and Dinesh Karthik (34) put on 64 for the opening wicket before man-of-the-match Kohli pressed home the advantage with an attractive 95-ball knock.

Kohli, dropped on 83 by Mohammad Ashraful at deep mid-wicket off paceman Syed Rasel, completed his century and his team's win with his 11th four.

Off-spinner Naeem Islam was the most impressive bowler, dismissing Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh (13) to finish with 2-35.

The hosts were earlier well-served by skipper Shakib Al Hasan (85) and Mohammad Mahmudullah (64 not out), who cracked fighting half-centuries to prop up the innings.

Bangladesh were struggling at 95-5 before Shakib and Mahmudullah steadied the innings with a 106-run stand for the sixth wicket to set the stage for a late onslaught, which saw the hosts score 95 in the last 10 overs.

Shakib fell in the 46th over, caught behind while attempting to scoop left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra over the wicket-keeper. He hit one six and eight fours in his 13th half-century.

Mahmudullah cracked one six and five boundaries in his career-best knock, while Naeem made an unbeaten 22 off just 14 balls late in the innings with the help of one six and two fours.

Nehra was the highest wicket-taker with 2-58 off 10 overs.

Scoreboard:

Bangladesh:

Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Kayes), 2-15 (Ashraful), 3-60 (Iqbal), 4-67 (Raqibul), 5-95 (Rahim), 6-201 (Shakib).

Bowling:

India:

Fall of wickets: 1-64 (Karthik), 2-87 (Gambhir), 3-133 (Yuvraj), 4-201 (Dhoni).

Bowling:

Result: India win by six wickets

Toss: India

Umpires: Simon Taufel (AUS) and Sharfuddoula Shahid (BAN)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)

Next match (final): India v Sri Lanka (Wednesday)

 

[Pintu]

Scorecard Update link of Cricbuzz :

http://live1.cricbuzz.com/livecrick...IES/BAN_IND_JAN11/scorecard_frame.html#inng_0

Regards

 

[Pintu]

AFP: Jayawardene, Sangakkara take S.Lanka to series win

Jayawardene, Sangakkara take S.Lanka to series win

(AFP) – 7 hours ago

DHAKA — Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara hit impressive half-centuries to guide Sri Lanka to a four-wicket win over India in the triangular one-day series final here on Wednesday.

Jayawardene top-scored with an unbeaten 71 and skipper Sangakkara made a brisk 55 as Sri Lanka passed India's 245 with nine balls to spare in the day-night match.

The duo also upstaged India's Suresh Raina, who cracked a gutsy 106 under pressure to prop up the innings.

"I always say we have got match-winners in the side and when it mattered today every one of them fired. It was a great start and all credit to the bowlers," said Sangakkara, who was named man of the series.

India were a bowler short when paceman Ashish Nehra left the field with an injury soon after having opener Upul Tharanga caught by Virat Kohli at second slip with his third delivery.

Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (49) and Sangakkara dominated the Indian attack with aggressive shots, adding 93 for the second wicket.

India's spinners brought their side back into the game, removing well-set Dilshan, Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera (27) and Thilina Kandamby (18) to reduce Sri Lanka to 189-5.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh impressed the most with 2-41, while left-arm spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Yuvraj Singh bagged one wicket apiece.

But Jayawardene kept his cool to steer to his side home, ending the match with three successive fours off paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.

India were earlier wobbling at 60-5 following incisive opening spells from pacemen Nuwan Kulasekara and Chanaka Welegedara, but Raina came to his team's rescue with his third one-day hundred.

Man-of-the-match Kulasekara finished with 4-48 and left-arm seamer Welegedara grabbed 3-53.

"I am very happy because this is my first man-of-the-match award outside my country. They had a good batting line-up and we needed wickets early. I enjoyed Virender Sehwag's wicket the most," said Kulasekara.

Raina steadied the innings with a 106-run stand for the sixth wicket with Jadeja (38). He fell soon after completing his century, bowled by Welegedara after cracking one six and 10 fours in his 115-ball knock.

India were undone by a combination of poor shot selection and Sri Lanka's disciplined pace bowling, losing wickets at regular intervals.

"I don't think the shot selection was great. Thanks to Raina and Jadeja, we made it a contest. I think if we had not lost Nehra we would have made a better fight of it," said India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Sehwag, who struck 42, kept playing shots despite the fall of wickets from the other end. His flourish did not last long though as he became Kulasekara's third victim.

He was caught behind after hitting seven fours in his 27-ball cameo. He became the sixth Indian to complete 7,000 one-day runs after Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Azharuddin and Yuvraj.

The Indian batting woes began with the match's third delivery when Gautam Gambhir was bowled by Kulasekara.

Welegedara had in-form Kohli caught behind for two and then Yuvraj was caught at first slip by Samaraweera in successive overs to send India reeling at 16-3 in four overs.

 

[Pintu]

AFP: Bangladesh too ordinary to beat India, says Sehwag

Bangladesh too ordinary to beat India, says Sehwag

By Shafiq Alam (AFP) – 13 hours ago

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh — India vice-captain Virender Sehwag has said Bangladesh are an "ordinary side" and cannot beat his world number-one team in a two-Test series starting here on Sunday.

"I don't think so," Sehwag said on Saturday when asked whether Bangladesh could beat India in Tests.

"Bangladesh can surprise anybody in one-day matches, but not in Tests. It's an ordinary side."

The hosts have won just three of their 61 matches since gaining Test status in 2000, losing 52 and drawing six. They have lost four of their five Tests against India, the lone draw coming in a rain-hit match here in 2007.

Bangladesh beat an under-strength West Indies 2-0 in an away Test series last year, but Sehwag said the hosts did not have the bowlers to put pressure on a strong Indian batting line-up.

"The kind of batting line-up we have, I think it's difficult for Bangladesh to take 20 Indian wickets. Even Sri Lanka can't do that. So it's very, very difficult for Bangladesh," said Sehwag.

India's batting has been strengthened with the return of veterans Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Venkatsai Laxman, who were not part of the side that lost a tri-series in Bangladesh recently.

India became the top-ranked team in Tests when they beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in a home series last year, but Sehwag said his side were focused more on playing good cricket than rankings.

"We are playing a Test match tomorrow and we're not thinking that we are number one, number two or number three. Yes, we have a Test against Bangladesh and we have to do well to win the match," he said.

Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan said his side were capable of giving a good account of themselves.

"I think we have a very good chance in this Test match. Hopefully, our boys will come up with their best," said Shakib.

"India have been ranked number one only recently. I think South Africa and Australia are much better than them. It's true that the Indians are playing very good cricket but still they are human.

"They can always make mistakes. If they make mistakes and we capitalise on them, we will be a very good team."

Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons said his side were keen to prove that they were improving.

"We are not an extraordinary side. But we have proved in recent history that we are an improving side. We will take the Test day by day and hopefully prove Sehwag wrong," he said.

"Obviously, we have not got the attack that Australia or other Test-playing nations have at the moment. But we have got a spinner (Shakib) who is world class. We also have some good, honest fast bowlers."

Siddons also said the team could opt for a three-pronged pace attack because India were very good against spin.

It means Shafiul Islam, a 22-year-old seamer who made his one-day debut in the tri-series, is likely to win a Test cap.

Bangladesh will be without fast bowler and regular skipper Mashrafe Mortaza, who is recovering from a knee injury.

The second and final Test will begin in Dhaka on January 24.

Bangladesh (from): Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful, Raqibul Hossain, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Shahriar Nafees, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Enamul Hossain, Mahbubul Alam, Shafiul Islam.

India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, Murali Vijay, Dinesh Karthik, Sudeep Tyagi.

 

[Pintu]

Dhoni out of the team due to back pain

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Sports | Dhoni out with back spasms

Dhoni out with back spasms
- Sehwag becomes public enemy No.1; Shakib hits back

LOKENDRA PRATAP SAHI

The Indians in a jovial mood during
practice in Chittagong, on Saturday,
the eve of the first Test against Bangladesh. (Top) Openers
Gautam Gambhir and Virender
Sehwag get ready for nets, while
Sachin Tendulkar also seems to be
having a good time. (AP)

Chittagong: The captain who took India to the No.1 position in Test cricket won’t be leading in the first match as the numero uno team.

Why?

Because Mahendra Singh Dhoni has again been laid low by back spasms and is out of the opening Test of the two-match series, against Bangladesh, beginning here on Sunday.

Dhoni just didn’t feel right after Saturday morning’s optional nets and, so, the captaincy will rest with Virender Sehwag.

With so much of cricket, and in all forms, expect others to also have one problem or the other before the season ends.

Sehwag, by the way, appears to have become public enemy No.1 after calling Bangladesh an “ordinary side,” lacking the firepower to take 20 Indian wickets and, thereby, incapable of winning.

The stand-in captain’s salvo outraged many, but the more realistic Bangladeshis accepted that Sehwag had been pretty spot-on, only he ought to have somewhat sweetened the bitter pill.

But, then, Sehwag isn’t one much concerned with niceties. Both on and off the field.

Nor does he intend joining the diplomatic corps.

Not to be left behind, the Bangladesh captain, Shakib-al Hasan, countered by saying that while Sehwag was entitled to his opinion, he felt South Africa and Australia were the “top teams,” not India.

“Much better,” is how he put it, just to rub it in.

It’s to be seen whether there’s any drama on the park during the contest for the Idea Cup, but there certainly has been much hungama in the lead up.

From a marketing perspective, it couldn’t have got better.

With both Sehwag, who’d addressed the media without revealing anything about Dhoni’s fitness, and Shakib holding nothing back, there’s much at stake for them personally, too.

Now, they’d better walk the talk.

The war of words notwithstanding, Shakib made the point that his side would actually be taking it “session by session” and “day by day.”

Meanwhile, the team management has excluded Pragyan Ojha, who played in the last two Tests (against Sri Lanka), from the XII and kept Amit Mishra instead.

“Ojha was very good in the Tests that he played in (Kanpur, Mumbai), but Mishra is the one currently bowling well... Form has to be a key factor,” a well-placed source told The Telegraph.

Left-armer Ojha had been dropped for the tri-series, while leggie Mishra made a comeback.

Depending on how the Z.A. Chowdhury Stadium wicket looks in the morning, either Mishra or quick Ishant Sharma will make the XI.

A 3-1 attack, therefore, is a possibility.

Given Chittagong’s location, it’s breezy through the day. Besides, one can expect a fair amount of moisture at the start. Later, though, the batsmen may have a real ball.

“I hope we lose the toss... For, right now, we don’t know what to do,” quipped the Bangladesh coach, Jamie Siddons.

Knowing Sehwag, he’d almost surely be looking to call correctly and straightaway taking guard.

TEAMS

INDIA: Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Sreesanth, Amit Mishra/Ishant Sharma.

BANGLADESH (likely): Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes/Junaid Siddiqui, Roqibul Hassan, Mohammed Ashraful, Shahriar Nafees, Shakib-al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Enamul Haque (Jr), Rubel Hossain, Shahdat Hossain.

Umpires: Billy Bowden, Marais Erasmus; TV: Enamul Haque.

Match Referee: Andy Pycroft.

Match starts: 9 am (IST).

 

[Pintu]

Whatmore's advice to Bangladesh (Telegraph link) :

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Sports | Whatmore: Bangla shouldn’t have a defeatist attitude

Regards

 

[Pintu]

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Sports | <B>THE WAR OF WORDS IN CHITTAGONG</B>

THE WAR OF WORDS IN CHITTAGONG

Shakib-al Hasan

VIRENDER SEHWAG (India’s stand-in captain): Bangladesh is an ordinary side... They can surprise in one-day cricket, but not in Test matches... It will be difficult for Bangladesh to take 20 Indian wickets... Even Sri Lanka couldn’t do so (in the recent series)... I’m not saying all this out of overconfidence... We’re not worried about Bangladesh’s preparations, we’re looking at what we need to do... Being No.1 isn’t going to change our thinking or attitude...

SHAKIB-AL HASAN (Bangladesh captain): I don’t want to comment on what Sehwag has said, he’s entitled to his opinion... A declaration can come into the picture and, in that case, you don’t have to take 20 wickets... Even the Indians are human and it’s not that they can’t get out... Today, India is ranked No.1, but I feel South Africa and Australia are the top teams (in Test cricket)... They are much better than India... We don’t have a defeatist attitude, if we did, we wouldn’t be taking the field...

Jamie Siddons

JAMIE SIDDONS (Bangladesh coach): He (Sehwag) probably shouldn’t come before a mike! Every team goes through phases of development... We look to improve and will be taking this series day by day... India’s No.1 and to get there you need to win games... India’s won enough... We’ll have to work hard to get 20 wickets in every Test...
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT IN CHITTAGONG

 

[Pintu]

The Press Association: Solid start for India

Solid start for India

(UKPA) – 3 hours ago

Openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir gave India a solid start on the first day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Sehwag was 38 not out and Gambhir was undefeated on 22, the opening pair easily negotiating Bangladesh's inexperienced pace attack after the home side had won the toss and put India in.

The start was delayed by 90 minutes due to fog and bad light, but India had made the most of a truncated first session - only an hour of play was possible - as they reached 63 for no loss at lunch.

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan had hoped for early success in overcast conditions, but Sehwag and Gambhir were rarely troubled although debutant Shafiul Islam and new-ball partner Rubel Hossain did find swing.

Sehwag, leading the side in the absence of regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, had begun with a boundary driven wide of mid-off and struck five more before the lunch interval.

In between ferocious drives and cuts, there were a few inside edges, but Bangladesh had no success.

Gambhir was slow off the mark, but had looked more fluent although a little more circumspect.

Dhoni missed out due to back spasms, while Harbhajan Singh was ruled out hours before play could start due to a stiff neck.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/472382_India-160-for-6-at-tea-vs-Bangladesh-on-Day-1

India 160 for 6 at tea vs Bangladesh on Day 1

STAFF WRITER 14:44 HRS IST

Chittagong, Jan 17 (PTI) Put into bat, India suffered a batting collapse to slump to 160 for six at tea on the opening day of their first cricket Test against Bangladesh here today.

Brief score:

India 1st innings: 160 for 6 in 45 overs (Virender Sehwag 52, Sachin Tendulkar 50 batting; Shahadat Hossain 3/34; Shakib Al Hasan 3/28).

 

[Pintu]

The Press Association: Tigers duo derail India

Tigers duo derail India

(UKPA) – 4 hours ago

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan and fast bowler Shahadat Hossain claimed three wickets apiece to leave India in disarray on the first day of the first Test in Chittagong.

Openers Virender Sehwag (52) and Gautam Gambhir (23) had given India a solid start with a 79-run stand for the first wicket but India lost their way in an extraordinary second session in which six wickets went down quickly.

Sachin Tendulkar, the last recognised batsman, was at the crease on 50 and with him was Amit Mishra (five not out) as India reached 160 for six at tea.

Sehwag reached his half-century in the first over after the lunch interval by hitting Shahadat for three boundaries in four deliveries, but perished immediately after.

Shakib had found considerable turn in a single over inside the first session in the morning and he got one to spin sharply into Sehwag, the batsman making room to drive on the on-side but only managing to spoon a catch to Tamim Iqbal at short cover.

Gambhir went in the next over, slashing at a wide delivery from Shahadat, the thin edge going straight to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.

The Tigers, still smarting from stand-in-captain Sehwag's comments that they were an ordinary team, were then in the ascendancy as Rahul Dravid was bowled by a fuller delivery from Shahadat.

VVS Laxman and Tendulkar briefly held the innings together with a 42-run stand for the fifth wicket, but that alliance was severed as Shakib struck again. Laxman inside-edged onto his front leg, the ball dribbling back to the wicketkeeper who smartly whipped off the bails as Laxman overbalanced and stepped out of his crease.

Yuvraj Singh also departed cheaply after hitting a full toss from Shakib straight to Rubel Hossain at mid-on and Dinesh Karthik, regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's replacement, was smartly snapped up by Raqibul Hasan at gully as he became Shahadat's third victim.

The damage could have been greater had Imrul Kayes held a sharp chance offered by Tendulkar while on 16, but the fielder put the catch down at first slip and Tendulkar went on to reach a half-century, going past 13,000 runs in Test cricket en route.

 

[Pintu]

Score card update : cricinfo link :

India 213/8 (63.0 ov, I Sharma 1*, SR Tendulkar 76*, Shakib Al Hasan 4/52) - Stumps | Live Scorecard | Cricinfo.com

Regards

 

[Pintu]

The Press Association: Bangladesh finish of India

Bangladesh finish of India

(UKPA) – 2 hours ago

Medium-pacer Shahadat Hossain and left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan completed five-wicket hauls as India were bowled out for 243 on day two of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

The start of play was again delayed by 90 minutes due to fog and bad light and, when play eventually resumed, Sachin Tendulkar continued his lone battle.

Tendulkar an undefeated 105, his 44th Test century, but Bangladesh wrapped up India's innings for the addition of only 30 runs.

Tendulkar, 76 at the start of the day, hit Shakib for a four and a six of successive overs to reach 93, but then lost overnight partner Ishant Sharma to Shahadat.

Ishant edged an angled delivery to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim, to present Shahadat with his third five-wicket haul in Tests.

Tendulkar continued of offer resistance in the company of last man Sreesanth and clubbed Shahadat for consecutive boundaries to reach his century.

But India's innings ended when Shakib scalped Sreesanth, the Bangladesh captain's sixth five-wicket haul in Tests.

 

[Pintu]

AFP: India's Zaheer jolts Bangladesh in cricket Test

India's Zaheer jolts Bangladesh in cricket Test

(AFP) – 5 hours ago

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh — Zaheer Khan grabbed two wickets in successive overs to end Bangladesh's early flourish in the opening Test against India here on Monday.

Bangladesh were comfortably placed at 53 for no loss before slipping to 59-3 at tea on the second day in reply to India's first-innings total of 243, with left-arm paceman Zaheer taking two wickets and Ishant Sharma one.

Sachin Tendulkar earlier scored a brilliant 105 not out for his 44th Test century to boost India's total. He cracked two sixes and 11 fours in his 166-ball knock.

For Bangladesh, Raqibul Hasan was unbeaten on one at the interval and Mohammad Ashraful had yet to open his account when tea was taken early due to bad light.

The home side got off to a sound start, with left-handed openers Tamim Iqbal (31) and Imrul Kayes (23) playing some handsome shots against the Indian strike bowlers.

Iqbal was initially more aggressive, scoring 21 in the opening four overs before his partner opened his account. He hit 11 runs, including two fours, in the first over bowled by Zaheer.

Kayes outscored Iqbal after lunch, hitting Zaheer for two boundaries in an over and then driving Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for a four.

Zaheer provided the breakthrough 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.

India, reeling at 213-8 on Sunday, lost their remaining two wickets in less than eight overs in the morning, with left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan and paceman Shahadat Hossain finishing with five wickets apiece.

Shakib grabbed 5-62 for his sixth haul of five or more wickets in Tests and Shahadat took 5-71 for his third.

Tendulkar, who had only tail-enders Sharma and Sreesanth for company, went for shots early in the morning in pursuit of his century.

Resuming on his overnight score of 76, he pulled Shahadat for a four in the first over after play started 90 minutes late due to fog, and then hoisted Shakib over long-on for a six.

Tendulkar was on 93 when last-man Sreesanth joined him and completed his century with two successive fours off Shahadat.

 

[Pintu]

The Press Association: India hit back

India hit back

(UKPA) – 1 hour ago

Zaheer Khan claimed two wickets in quick succession as India hit back strongly on day two of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Shahadat Hossain and Shakib Al Hasan had claimed five wickets apiece in the morning as Bangladesh skittled India out for 243, but not before Sachin Tendulkar (105 not out) reached his 44th Test century.

Tamim Iqbal (31) and Imrul Kayes (23) then gave Bangladesh a decent start with an opening stand worth 53, but Zaheer sent back both openers and Ishant Sharma snared Shariar Nafees as the home side slipped to 59 for three before play was suspended due to bad light and an early tea interval was enforced.

 

[Pintu]

Tendulkar scores 105, India hit back reducing Bangladesh 59-3

Bangladesh lost 3 quick wickets after India ended their 1st innings at 243. Tendulkar not out on 105. Bangladesh tottering on 59/3 in 17 overs after play called off due to bad light.


(Scorecard update link , Cricinfo) :

Ban 59/3 (17.0 ov, Mohammad Ashraful 0*, Raqibul Hasan 1*, Z Khan 2/32) - Stumps | Live Scorecard | Cricinfo.com

Regards

 

[Pintu]

The Press Association: Tigers show fight

Tigers show fight

(UKPA) – 16 minutes ago

Middle-order batsman Mahmudullah led a strong fightback from Bangladesh with a maiden half-century on the third day of the first Test against India in Chittagong.

Mahmudullah weighed in with a career-best 69 and wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim struck 44, their resistance sandwiched between batting collapses, as Bangladesh were bowled out for 242, only one behind India's total.

India's openers regained some of the initiative with a 90-run stand for the opening wicket in their second innings, that partnership severed by Shakib Al Hasan's dismissal of Virender Sehwag as the visitors reached 122 for one at the close.

Gautam Gambhir was three short of a half-century and with him was nightwatchman Amit Mishra on 24 when bad light ended play early.

Fog and bad light had again delayed the start by an hour but India's bowlers made steady inroads, quickly regaining the momentum they had generated before play was halted on Monday afternoon.

Overnight batsman Mohammad Ashraful was off the mark with an edged-boundary that VVS Laxman failed to grasp at third slip but his scratchy stint at the crease was brief.

Ishant Sharma squared up the former captain with a delivery that pitched on off-stump and flicked the edge, and Rahul Dravid neatly held the catch at second slip.

Shakib, off the mark with a crisply-driven boundary, had struck four boundaries in his 17 when he perished, attempting one boundary too many.

The left-handed batsman slashed at a delivery from Zaheer Khan but only managed to find Sehwag at gully, the stand-in-captain completing the dismissal with a good catch.

Shanthakumaran Sreesanth then snared Raqibul Hasan with a rising delivery that pitched just outside off, the batsman obliging with the edge. However, Mahmudullah and Rahim, who came together just before the lunch interval, batted through most of the afternoon session, rescuing the home side in the process.

 

[Pintu]

AFP: India in control of first Bangladesh cricket Test

India in control of first Bangladesh cricket Test

By Shafiq Alam (AFP) – 6 hours ago

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh — Gautam Gambhir closed in on a rapid half-century as India raced to 122-1 in their second innings at stumps on the third day of the opening Test against Bangladesh on Tuesday.

The opener (47 not out) added 90 for the opening wicket with stand-in captain Virender Sehwag (45) after India had narrowly avoided conceding the lead to Bangladesh for the first time in six Tests.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 242 in their first innings shortly after tea in reply to India's 243.

India got off to a strong start, with left-handed Gambhir and Sehwag dominating the Bangladeshi attack with attractive shots during their 17-over partnership.

Sehwag fell just three balls after hitting a straight six off left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan, caught by Raqibul Hasan at square-leg while attempting another big shot.

Nightwatchman Amit Mishra was unbeaten with a 21-ball 24 when play was called off due to bad light.

Bangladesh's Mohammad Mahmudullah earlier hit an impressive 69 for his maiden half-century. He put on 108 for the seventh wicket with Mushfiqur Rahim (44) to raise his team's hopes of gaining the lead.

The hosts were tottering at 98-6 before being revived by Mahmudullah and Rahim, but three late wickets by Indian leg-spinner Mishra saw them concede the lead.

Bangladesh failed to cope with India's pace in the morning, when they lost three wickets in the space of 30 runs, but Mahmudullah and Rahim denied the visitors success for more than two hours with their sensible knocks.

The duo applied themselves remarkably well, patiently waiting for loose deliveries. Mahmudullah played some handsome shots in his 108-ball knock before being caught behind off paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.

Wicketkeeper Rahim had been batting confidently before he fell to a loose shot, caught by Sehwag at mid-wicket while attempting to hit Mishra against the turn. Rahim struck six fours in his 104-ball knock.

Mishra and left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan finished with three wickets each, while seamers Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth grabbed two apiece.

India looked set to gain a sizeable lead in the morning session when Zaheer, Sharma and Sreesanth struck in quick succession.

Bangladesh added nine runs to their overnight total of 59-3 when Sharma had former captain Mohammad Ashraful caught in the slips by Rahul Dravid for two.

Home skipper Shakib Al Hasan started aggressively, hitting four boundaries in his 17 before being caught by Sehwag, who timed his jump to perfection at gully.

Raqibul Hasan (17) was the third batsman to fall in the first session, edging a lifting delivery from Sreesanth to wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik.

Play was delayed for the third successive day due to dense fog which had restricted play to 63 of the stipulated 90 overs on the first day and just 24.5 overs on the second day.

The second and final Test will start in Dhaka on January 24.

 

[Pintu]

Scorecard update link : (Cricinfo)

India 122/1 (22.2 ov, A Mishra 24*, G Gambhir 47*, Shakib Al Hasan 1/28) - Stumps | Live Scorecard | Cricinfo.com

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