By Qaiser Mohammad Ali,
Chittagong, May 18 (IANS) Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Dinesh Karthik hit half-centuries as India scored 295 for three on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh here Friday.
When play ended 13 overs before the scheduled close due to poor visibility at the Bir Shrestha Shahid Ruhul Amin Stadium, Ganguly was batting on a well-compiled 82 (132 balls, 10x4s, 2x6s) and Sachin Tendulkar was on 80 (137 balls, 7x4s).
They have so far raised 163 runs for the fourth wicket. Ganguly’s contribution is 82 and Tendulkar’s 75.
Earlier, Dravid (61, 99 balls, 11x4s), who won the toss, and Karthik (56, 143 minutes, 8x4s) scored half-centuries on a pitch that looked good for batting.
Speedster Mashrafe Mortaza took two wickets to be the most successful bowler. Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar pressed seven bowlers into the attack but largely without success.
The match, however, started on a sensational note when Wasim Jaffer shouldered arms to the very first delivery from Mortaza and was castled by a ball that came in a bit to the surprise of the batsman.
Obviously elated, Mortaza ran a long celebratory lap and the entire Bangladeshi team chased him. The spectators started jumping with joy.
But the home team’s joy was shortlived as captain Rahul Dravid joined opener Dinesh Karthik and the two frustrated a pepped up Bangladeshi attack for the next 31 overs.
Playing his 108th Test match, Dravid batted in his usual responsible manner. He took time to settle down and then played a few delectable strokes on both sides of the wicket. He reached his 47th half-century off 59 balls and hit 10 boundaries.
Karthik, in his 12th match, was more a bit circumspect and reached his third half-century off 77 balls and had eight boundaries.
Both had lunch at 113 for one, having scored fine half-centuries. But seconds after the players went into their dressing rooms skies opened up and a total of 55 minutes were lost owing to rains.
Soon after lunch Karthik was out, Mortaza having him caught by vice-captain Mohammad Ashraful at mid-off for a well made half-century.
Eight runs later, Shahadat Hossian got rid of Dravid with the first ball of his second spell. It was an express delivery outside the off side that rose and came in to surprise Dravid, who attempted to square cut it but managed only to edge it to wicket-keeper Khaled Mashud for an easy catch.
From 124 for two, India were now 132 for three. Dravid’s wicket brought Sachin Tendulkar (playing 136th Test) and Sourav Ganguly (92nd Test), the two most experienced players of the side, together.
Tendulkar, who was for the first time in his almost 18-year international career was ignored when fit for the just concluded One-day International series, and Ganguly started cautiously as two wickets had fallen quickly.
Soon they gained confidence on a pitch that was shorn of grass, though it had good bounce for the pacers. Only towards the end of the day, one Rajin Saleh delivery to Ganguly almost skidded through when he was on 74.
Largely, the two batsmen dominated the attack for most part. Ganguly was a bit more adventurous as he stepped out against veteran left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique to hit him for two sixes.
Earlier, India picked off-spinner Ramesh Powar in the XI. Powar became 254th player to make his Test debut. Pacer Munaf Patel had back spasm and was replaced by Rudra Pratap Singh.
Bangladesh also gave the Test cap to all-rounder Sakibul Hasan while Tushar Imran missed the match due to fever.
SCOREBOARD
Day 1, First Test, India vs. Bangladesh, Bir Shrestha
Shahid Ruhul Amin Stadium, Chittagong
Wasim Jaffer b Mortaza 0
Dinesh Karthik c Ashraful b Mortaza 56
Rahul Dravid c Mashud b Hossain 61
Sachin Tendulkar not out 80
Sourav Ganguly not out 82
Extras: (bye 1, leg byes 5, wide 1, no balls 9) Total: (for three wickets in 77 overs) 295 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Jaffer, 0.1 overs), 2-124 (Karthik, 31.2), 3-132 (Dravid, 33.1)
Bowling:
Mashrafe Mortaza 18 5 64 2 (nb 3)
Shahadat Hossain 9 1 33 1 (nb 2, w 1)
Mohammad Rafique 20 2 89 0
Enamul Haque (junior) 13 0 57 0 (nb 4)
Saqibul Hasan 13 2 29 0
Mohammad Ashraful 1 0 5 0
Rajin Saleh 3 1 12 0
Umpires: Daryl Harper (Australia) and Billy Doctrove
(West Indies)
TV umpire: Enamul Hoque Moni (Bangladesh)
Reserve umpire: Jahangir Alam (Bangladesh)
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka)