Tendulkar, Dravid tons help India to 459

Sachin Tendulkar cracked his 45th Test century and Rahul Dravid his 29th hundred as India tightened the screws on Bangladesh in the second and final Test on Monday.

Tendulkar made 143 and Dravid 111 before retiring hurt to help India post a massive 459-5 in their first innings at stumps on the second day in reply to Bangladesh’s modest total of 233.

The visitors were 226 runs ahead with five wickets in hand.

Dravid was struck on the helmet while avoiding a bouncer from paceman Shahadat Hossain, bowling with the second new ball. He hit 12 fours in his 188-ball knock.

India’s batting might was on view throughout the day as they scored 390 after resuming at 69 for no loss, with all of their top-order batsmen making sizeable contributions.

Gautam Gambhir (68) and Virender Sehwag (56) put on 103 for the opening wicket before Tendulkar and Dravid consolidated their team’s position with a 222-run stand for the third wicket.

Gambhir also equalled West Indian Viv Richards’s world record of scoring a half-century in 11 successive Tests.

“I don’t believe in counting (centuries). I believe in playing and scoring,” said Tendulkar. “Runs don’t come easy. I am of the opinion that no attack can be underestimated. I always apply myself whatever the opposition. I think we have been able to get into a very good position.”

Tendulkar, who scored a century in the last Test, was caught by Imrul Kayes at mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan. His 182-ball knock included one six and 13 fours.

Shakib took his second wicket when he had Murali Vijay (30) caught by Mohammad Mahmudullah at mid-on, but India had already gained a big lead at that stage.

It was a disappointing day for Bangladesh, who not only struggled to take wickets but also failed to make the most of the chances that came their way. “Missing catches is part of the game. It was tough for the bowlers as the wicket favoured batsmen, but our pacers bowled well,” said Shahadat. “It was our plan to test them with bouncers. The wicket did not have much turn and that’s why our spinners like Shakib did not get more wickets. The wicket has become uneven.” Tendulkar was let off on 27 by Raqibul Hasan at gully off seamer Rubel Hossain before reaching his half-century with a firmly driven four off Shahadat. He offered a difficult chance immediately after completing his half-century when he tried to upper-cut Shahadat, but Raqibul failed to latch on to the ball at point.

Dravid was on 28 when he edged a short-pitched delivery from Rubel into the slips, where Junaid Siddique took a superb catch, but it was ruled a no-ball.

Bangladesh removed both the openers in the first session with short-pitched deliveries but had to wait for more than a session for the next success as Tendulkar and Dravid batted with determination.

AFP

BANGLADESH 
1st innings 233 
(M. Mahmudullah 96 not out; I. Sharma 4-66)

INDIA 1st innings 
(overnight 69-0)

G. Gambhir c Rahim b Shafiul		 68
V. Sehwag c Rahim b Shahadat		 56
R. Dravid retd hurt			111
S. Tendulkar c Kayes b Shakib		143
M. Vijay c Mahmudullah b Shakib		 30
MS Dhoni not out			 22
Harbhajan Singh c Rahim b Shafiul	 13

Extras (b1, lb5, nb9, w1)		 16
TOTAL (for five wickets)		 459

Fall of wickets: 1-103 (Sehwag), 2-146 (Gambhir), 3-421 (Tendulkar), 4-436 (Vijay), 5-459 (Harbhajan).
Bowling: Shafiul 17.5-1-70-2 (w1), Shahadat 19-2-71-1 (nb2), Rubel 23-0-106-0 (nb7), Shakib 27-0-108-2,
 Ashraful 4-0-26-0, Mahmudullah 11-0-63-0, Siddique 1-0-9-0.