India take 1-0 lead vs Bangladesh Test series

vIndianz.com (21 Jan, 2010) — Chittagong: Chasing a mammoth target of 415 runs, Bangladesh did managed to scare India on the final day of the first Test cricket match which concluded at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here on Thursday but lost the match despite a rearguard century from Mushfiqur Rahim. India defeated Bangladesh by 113 runs

ind-vs-bangla-day-3th Wicketkeepr-batsman Mushfiqur scored 101 for Bangladesh in the second innings opener Tamim Iqbal scored 52 for the hosts.

India scored 243 in the first innings and bowled out Bangladesh for 242. The visitors declared their second innings for 413 for eight.

Bangaldesh were all out for 301 in 75.2 overs as Ishant Sharma (3-48) and Amit Mishra (4-92) were the chief wreckers for the touring Indians while strike bowler Zaheer Khan took 2 for 90.

Sachin Tendulkar was named as the man-of-the-match for his century he hist in the first innings where he also crossed 13,000-run aggregate mark.

India have taken a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series. The second Test will begin on Sunday in Dhaka.

Laxman out of Dhaka Test

Senior batsman V.V.S. Laxman who scored a fifty in the second innings will return home after a hand injury ruled him out of the second and final Test against Bangladesh.

Laxman hurt the webbing of his left hand while fielding during the fourth day’s play on Wednesday. He dropped Shahriar Nafees twice off Zaheer Khan and looked in pain as he left the field.

Indian team’s administrative manager Arshad Ayub said the right-hander would return home and the team has decided not to ask for a replacement.

“He received 10 stitches on the injured finger and will return home. We have not sought any replacement,” Ayub said.

He said pacer S Sreesanth, who limped off the field after sustaining a hamstring injury, would be assessed soon.

Sehwag thanks Indian bowlers

Meanwhile stand-in captain Virender Sehwag praised bowlers for the team’s emphatic victory over Bangladesh.

Sehwag, standing in for injured captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, said after his side’s famed batting order folded for 243 in the first innings, it was important not to let the hosts take a lead and the ‘our bowlers stuck to that task, restricting Bangladesh to 242 in their first essay”.

“It’s nice to have a win in pocket. We were charged up after Bangladesh bowled us out under 250 in the first innings. The bowlers did a terrific job,” Sehwag told in the post-match conference. “Zaheer (Khan) and Ishant (Sharma) were outstanding with the new ball. Both Ishant and Zaheer were quick and got appreciable bounce from the wicket,” he said.

I play as if it’s my last: Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir, the 28-year-old opener has, also became the first Indian batsman to score centuries in five consecutive Test matches in Chittagong Test.

Gambhir sais his top priority was simply to score runs for the team and confessed that he is not bother about records. “There is always so much pressure while playing for the country, thinking about records just multiplies it. I would like to keep things simple,” he said.

Gambhir has joined Pakistan’s Mohmmad Yusuf and South African Jacques Kallis on the five-in-a-row list and will equal legendary Sir Don Bradman’s record if he scores another century in Dhaka Test.

Gambhir also became the second batsman after Englishman John Edrich to cross the half-century mark in 10 consecutive Tests and West Indian great Vivian Richards’s record beckons him if he score another 50. Gambhir said his turning point came when he scored 171 against Australia at Mohali in 2008.

Brief scores:

India: 243 all out and 413-8 decld

Bangladesh: 242 and 301

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