Pacers have a ball, and bat too

The hosts now are reeling at 170 for 8 after India finished at 526 with a lead of 342.

Yesterday, Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore had said that his batsmen will have learnt from their mistakes in the first innings and are ready to put on a better show. But that certainly wasn’t on show as the routine procession started from the first over of the innings itself. The home batsmen showed that they still hadn’t fathomed Pathan out, and like in the first innings, went down in a heap in the face of his incoming (to the right-handers) deliveries.

For his part, Pathan would later say that he though ‘‘very highly’’ of his performance and that he had bowled a lot better in the second innings as in the afternoon ‘‘you generally don’t get that much swing’’.

Also, when Bangla captain Habibul Bashar said afterwards that he has ‘‘no excuses to offer’’, it really doesn’t count. Because he obviously couldn’t have come up with any. ‘‘Maybe some of our batsmen are out of form,’’ Bashar reckoned. Again, obviously.

Pathan trapped all the top-order batsmen leg-before, creating a new record of sorts. The ball just had to swing a little bit and the batsman would be caught plumb, just an action replay of the first innings. Pathan, however, have the benefit of doubt to his victims: ‘‘It’s difficult for any batsman to play against such a swinging ball. I don’t think they played badly, the bowling was good.’’

Having waited for his first five-wicket haul for eight Tests, Pathan got his second in just eight overs today. ‘‘It’s a great feeling for me. To get the first five wickets and then the 10 wickets. You need one five-wicket haul to get started. I didn’t know it is going to happen so quickly,’’ said an elated Pathan.

The additional nails in Bangladesh’s coffin were driven in early in the morning itself when Sachin Tendulkar — with his fourth double and highest ever score of 248 not out — put the issue firmly away. His 133-run last wicket alliance with Zaheer lit up a cloudy day, with the No 11 batsman enjoying himself against an attack already on its knees. Neatly stepping down and tonking the ball in typical tailender fashion or playing through the covers, Zaheer did it all. In the process, he scored the highest-ever by a No 11 batsman.

Playing well enough to make a top-order batsman proud, Zaheer used his feet well and made the hosts dance to his tune. It wasn’t chanceless, as the fielders put down quite a few chances, but it was entertaining. So much so that for the best part of their partnership, Zaheer outscored Tendulkar. Now, though Nafis Iqbal (54) and Manjural Islam Rana (50 n.o.) have delayed the inevitable, Monday can’t see too much action, with the Indians needing just two more wickets. As not out batsmen Rana and Tapash Baisya (17 n.o.) walk out, it will only to try and postpone the presentation ceremony.