 India all set to conquer Bangladesh
26th May 2007 19:03 IST
Agencies
India established a vice-like grip as they plucked out the top half of the Bangladesh batting order for a meagre 58 after posting a massive first innings total on day two of the second Test in Mirpur today.
Bangladesh's inexperience of playing Test cricket showed off as they seemed to be wilting under the pressure after India declared their first essay at 610/3, a run-feast featuring four centuries by its top order.
At stumps, Bangladesh were tottering at 58/5 with Saqibul Hasan (30) and Mohammad Sharif (0) in the middle.
The hosts - still needing 353 runs to make India bat again -- could have been in a worse situation, but for the butter-fingered Indian fielders, who spilled as many as three chances during an action-packed last session at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.
Earlier today, resuming at the overnight score of 326 for no loss, India declared their marathon innings 53 minutes into the post-tea session, with each of their first four batsmen cracking hundreds.
Skipper Rahul Dravid got 129, Sachin Tendulkar (122) grafted to his 37th ton in the longer version of the game and young talent Dinesh Karthik resumed his unfinished knock to score his maiden Test hundred (129) to add to Wasim Jaffer's opening day ton (138 retired hurt).
This is the first time in the history of Test cricket that all top four batsmen have hit centuries in an innings.
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