India stumble on Mortaza-Hossain hurdle, fail to enforce follow-on

Chittagong, May 21 (UNI) Bangladesh rubbed salt on India's wounds first avoiding the follow-on by accumulating 238 in their first innings in reply to India's 387 for 8 declared and then reducing the visitors to 44 for 2 in their second stint on the fourth day of the first Test here today.

The hosts' tail wagged as Shahdat Hossain and Mashrafee Mortaza put on a classy 77-run stand for the ninth wicket to thwart the Indian ambitions of enforcing a follow-on.

At the draw of stumps, Dinesh Karthick (15) and Sachin Tendulkar (24) were at the crease. Both survived some close calls.

Earlier, Bangladesh were struggling to avoid a follow-on after Indian bowlers struck in regular intervals to reduce the hosts to 160 for 8 at tea, though a 56-run fifth wicket partnership between Rajen Saleh and Shakib-al-Hasan lent the score some respectability.

But, the real blow came when Shahdat Hossain, who was cleaned up by Sachin Tendulkar for 31, and Mashrafee Mortaza, who was ultimately bowled for 79 by VRV singh, strung together a 77-run partnership for the ninth wicket to frustrate India's hopes of enforcing a follow-on.

Bangladesh were finally all out for 238.

Mortaza was brilliant, cutting, pulling, driving with elan. He looked his regal best when he hooked Sachin for a six over mid-wicket. The other two sixes came off Powar and Zaheer Khan. He also hit seven boundaries during his blitzkrieg. Bangladesh reached 189 with Mashrafee on 52 and Shahdat on 23 in the 90th over to pour cold water on India's hopes.

Mashrafee completed his maiden Test half century to show another all-rounder had arrived at the world stage.

But, Indian skipper Rahul Dravid, who would of course rue the unavailability of Anil Kumble, looked unimaginative and defensive to say the least.

Kumble's absence hurt, but Dravid deployed Tendulkar 10 overs too late to allow Bangladesh escape the follow-on. Sourav Ganguly, known for having a golden arm, was inexplicably not used at all.

India began their second innings in the same manner as the first with Wasim Jaffer scoring a duck for the second time. The Mumbaikar, who has failed to perform to justify for his repeated selection, played a half-hearted pull shot to perish to a brilliant short pitched delivery from Shahadat Hossain. At 0 for 1 India were shocked.

Hossain then played the mind games on Dravid, walking up to him, exchanging words, and meeting him in the eye-ball. The veteran batsman was lured into the trap and trying to flick the bowler off his legs, Dravid perished to a brilliant catch by Rajen Saleh. At two for six India looked very unimpressive.

Earlier, the Indian innings came to a close at 387 for 8 declared.

Coming to bat after the third day's play was washed out by rain at 384 for six, India declared the innings at the fall of Mahendra Singh Dhoni who drove straight down the throat of Javed Omar off Mortaza without adding to his overnight score of 36.

Dhoni came out to bat with Zaheer Khan on the fourth day morning today, after Anil Kumble retired hurt due to illness. Administrative Manager Surendra Bhave confirmed that he was down with fever and was under medication.

But there was no indication whether he would play any further part in the match or not. This was not such a big blow in batting department, but could have a role to play as India look to bowl Bangladesh out on a good batting pitch.

Zaheer went early in the day, hanging his bat out outside the off stump to one from Shahadat Hossain that took an edge after bouncing to be gobbled up by Khaled Mashud behind the wickets. VRV Singh was out to bat.

But the real blow for India came when Dhoni went after a short and wide delivery from Mortaza and didn't get the elevation he wanted. Mortaza returned with figures of four for 97 while Shahadat got three for 96 for his efforts.

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