Islam rules over toothless Indian attack

Bangladesh skipper Naimur Rahman removed debutant Shiv Sunder das for 29 to cap a splendid batting effort spearheaded by Aminul Islam who hit a fine 145.

Islam became only the third batsman in Test history to score a century in his country’s debut Test as Bangladesh recorded the second highest total ever for a country in their first match.

Sunil Joshi took his first five-wicket haul and finished with 5-142 to bring some solace to the Indian bowling which was found lacking in depth.

India, sensing the enormity of the task, started cautiously with Das and ramesh putting on 66 runs for the opening wicket.

Bangladesh pacemen Habibul Hossain and Bikash Ranjan Das failed to contain the batsmen which prompted Rahman to introduce himself and left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique into the attack.

His move proved successful when after slowing down the scoring rate, Rahman bowled out Das off a gentle off-spinner.

Das scored 29 runs off 66 balls which included four hits to the fence.Murali Karthik, sent ahead of Rahul Dravid in fading light, batted sensibly in the company of Ramesh and the duo saw through the day without any further casualities.

Ramesh looked in command in his unbeaten 40 runs off 67 balls that were laced with four boundaries.

Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 239-6, Islam and wicket-keeper Khaled Masud continued to frustrate the Indian bowlers with defiant batting.

The duo added 69 runs from 29 overs in the morning session with Islam reaching his landmark century in 282 balls which was aided by 13 fours.

Bangladesh took lunch at 302-6 and were well on course of improving upon zimbabwe’s 456 against India in 1992-93 series in harare which is the best-ever total for a team playing their first Test match.

The much-vaunted pace attack of Javagal Srinath, Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan came to nought as Islam and Masud batted with ease and added 93 runs for the seventh wicket.

Masud was finally dismissed when, after scoring 32 valuable runs, Shiv Sunder das caught him close to the wicket to give Sunil Joshi his fourth wicket of the innings.

It proved to be only a temporary respite for the Indians.Left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique hoisted Joshi twice over the ropes in his cameo knock of 22 runs off 29 balls as he added another 30 runs for the eighth wicket with Islam before being caught by Das off Sachin Tendulkar.

The woes of Indians never seemed to end. Hasibul Hossain (28 no) played a resilent innings adding 31 runs for the ninth wicket with Islam and after his departure brought up the 400 for his team with Bikash Ranjan Das (2).

Islam, visibly tired, lobbed a simple catch to Srinath at mid-on off Agarkar to bring an end to a splendid knock of 145 runs, the second highest ever while playing in his country’s first Test match.

Aminul Islam’s marathon 379-ball knock that included 17 fours fell 20 runs short of the all time highest by Charles Bannerman’s unbeaten 165 for Australia against England at Melbourne in 1877.

Scoreboard
Bangladesh (1st innings; overnight 239-6): Shahriar Hossain c Ganguly b Joshi 12, Mehrab Hossain c Saba b Khan 4, Habibul Bashar c Ganguly b Khan 71, Aminul Islam c Srinath b Agarkar 145, Akram Khan c Dravid b Joshi 35, Al Sheriar lbw Agarkar 12, Naimur Rahman c Das b Joshi 15, Khaled Masud c Das b Joshi 32, Mohammed Rafique c Das b Tendulkar 22, Hasibul Hossain (not out) 28, Bikash Ranjan das c Ganguly b Joshi 2; Extras: (b13, lb6, nb3) 22. Total (all out in 153.3 overs) 400

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-44, 3-110, 4-175, 5-196, 6-231, 7-324, 8-354, 9-385

Bowling: Srinath 22-9-47-0, Khan 21-6-49-2, Agarkar 31-13-68-2, Joshi 45.3-8-142-5, Karthik 24-9-41-0, Tendulkar 10-2-34-1.

India (1st innings): Shiv Sundar Das b Rahman 29, Sadagoppan Ramesh (batting) 40, Murali Karthik (batting) 7; Extras: (b5) 5. Total (for one wicket) 81

Fall of wicket: 1-66.

Bowling: Hossain 6-0-20-0, Bikash Das 6-1-26-0, Rahman 7-3-9-1, Rafique 5-2-15-0, Bashar 2-0-6-0.