Sachin-Sourav make merry as India reach 295 for three

Chittagong, May 18 (UNI) ''Rested'' stars Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly took India to a commanding 295 for three at close of play on day one of the first Test against Bangladesh at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium here today.

Earlier, Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to bat. But Mortaza send a chill down the spine uprooting opener Wasim Jaffer's off stick in the very first ball of the day.

However, after that there were no surprises as two century plus partnerships saw India reach a comfortable 295 as game ended 13 overs before the completion of the stipulated 90 due to bad light.

Sachin was unbeaten on 80 off 137 balls with seven boundaries, and Ganguly on 82 off 132 balls with two sixes and and 10 hits to the boundary.

The first partnership featuring skipper Rahul Dravid and Dinesh Karthik contributed 124 runs while the second one saw Tendulkar and Ganguly put on an unbeaten 163 as the duo stormed the Bangladesh attack with some roaring form.

The duo came together at the fall of Dravid and put on unbeaten 49 runs for the fourth wicket to take India to 181 for three at tea with Tendulkar not on 35 and Ganguly on 16.

Both the batsmen looked comfortable rotating the strike and culling runs at ease. While Sachin got out a few delectable cuts against the spinners, Ganguly hit some vintage drives on the off-side.

Sachin, who scored his highest individual score of 248 on his last visit to Bangladesh, showed no signs of rustiness coming from a longish break. He immediately settled down flicking the first ball from Mortaza to square leg for a single. Ganguly also looked in good nick driving at ease and letting go the bouncers.

As Ganguly stepped into the crease, the mind games began with a forward short leg being employed and Shahdat and Mortaza firing in a few short ones. But seeing Ganguly not interested in those deliveries, the field setting went back to a more orthodox format, helping the left hander flourish.

While Sachin reached his 50 hitting Enamul Haque for a boundary over long on off 75 balls, and celebrated it with another boundary of the next ball. With seven boundaries in his kitty already, he looked in regal touch.

India were sitting pretty at 218 for 3 then. Ganguly reached his 28th half century four overs later as he took a quick two run that ended with Sourav slipping at the keeper's end and then raising his bat sitting aplomb.

After the comic relief came his trademark mayhem as he lofted Md Rafique for the second time over long on for a huge six.

Earlier, Dravid sprung his little surprise by making V V S Laxman sit out to accommodate M S Dhoni. R P Singh came in place of an injured Munaf Patel, while Romesh Pawar made his debut.

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