Zaheer spell destroys Bangladesh; India win series 2-0
India won the series 2-0 when they beat Bangladesh by ten wickets in the second and final Test on the fourth day of the match at Mirpur, Dhaka on January 27. The home team suffered a dramatic collapse from 290 for 3 to 312 all out, making India bat again for only two runs which they scored through byes in the very first over.
Bangladesh seemed poised to give India a tough fight when they were cruising along at 290 for 3, the base of which was laid by an outstanding innings of 151 by opener Tamim Iqbal. Tamim and Junaid Siddique (55) added a record 200 runs for the second wicket. Even nightwatchman Sahadat Hossain and Mohammad Ashraful were in no apparent trouble before the former was dismissed for 40 after a 68-run partnership for the fourth wicket. After the departure of Ashraful (25) and skipper Shakib Al Hasan, it was an over from Zaheer Khan which turned the match on its head. Zaheer dismissed three batsmen in that over without conceding a run to reduce Bangladesh to 304 for 9. And in the first over after lunch, Zaheer dismissed Robel Hossain also to finish with 7 for 87, his career-best figures and maiden ten-wicket haul in a Test. Pragyan Ojha also bowled well to finish with 2 for 77.
In reply to Bangladesh’s first innings score of 233, India declared their eventful first innings at 544 for 8. Sachin Tendulkar (143) scored his 45th Test hundred, but Rahul Dravid had to retire hurt after breaking his jaw being struck by a Sahadat bouncer after making 111, his 29th Test century. While skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni batted with the tail to score 89, useful contributions were made by Virender Sehwag (56) and Gautam Gambhir (68). Shafiul Islam and Shakib took three and two wickets for 86 and 118 respectively.
The Bangladesh first innings was marked by a brilliant unbeaten 96 by Mahmudullah, who unfortunately ran out of partners to miss what would have been his maiden Test century. Ashraful (39), Shakib (34) and Mushfiqur Rahim (30) made some useful contributions. Ishant Sharma took 4 for 66 while Zaheer finished with 3 for 62. Ojha claimed 2 for 49.
Zaheer was named both Man of the Match and Man of the Series.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 233 (Mahmudullah 96*; Ishant 4/66, Zaheer 3/62, Ojha 2/49) and 312 (Tamim 151, Siddique 55; Zaheer 7/87, Ojha 2/77); India 544 for 8 decld. (Tendulkar 143, Dravid 111 r.h., Dhoni 89, Gambhir 68, Sehwag 56; Shafiul 3/86, Shakib 2/118) and 2 for no loss. India won by 10 wickets.
