India produced a strong batting display to claim the honours on Day One of the first Test against Bangladesh at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium, in Chittagong, on Friday.
Experienced campaigners Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly proved their worth, scoring solid half-centuries as India ended the day on a healthy 295 for 3 in 77 overs.
Make-shift opener Dinesh Karthik also answered to the team's needs with a solid 56, adding 124 runs for the second wicket with Dravid, who scored 61.
Tendulkar was unbeaten on a fine 82, inclusive of seven boundaries, off 137 deliveries. He was involved in an unbroken stand of 163 runs for the fourth wicket with Ganguly, who was not out on 82 (132 balls, 10 boundaries, two sixes).
India lost a wicket to the very first ball of the match when Wasim Jaffer was bowled by Mashrafe Mortaza. The Bangla pacer also claimed the wicket of Karthik to finish with 2 for 64 in his 18 overs.
13 overs were bowled short after a 55-minute rain delay held up play after lunch.
Morning session: (25 overs, 113 runs, 1 wicket)
Bangladesh got off to a dream start, with pacer Mashrafe Mortaza striking off the very first ball of the match. Opener Wasim Jaffer offered no stroke to a delivery pitched just outside the off-stump only to see it swing in and strike the off stump. (0-1, 0.1 overs)
Rahul Dravid looked in golden touch the moment he arrived at the crease. His first boundary came off the eighth delivery he faced; it was a sweetly-timed shot off Shahadat Hossain through the off-side. Thereafter, boundaries came at regular intervals.
Mashrafe Mortaza suffered the most, as Dravid creamed him through the off-side a few times. Even though India lost an early wicket, Dravid and Dinesh Karthik batted solidly, scoring runs at a good rate.
India were 60 for 1 after 10 overs, Dravid going strong on 33 from 30 balls, having already hit seven boundaries. Karthik proved the perfect foil, scoring 23, inclusive of three boundaries.
Mortaza conceded 38 runs in his first spell of five overs and already Bangladesh were feeling the heat. The pitch was as flat as you can get and the two Indian batsmen made merry. Even both the left-arm spinners were unable to make any sort of impression as the ball came on to the bat nicely.
Karthik stepped down the wicket to Mohammad Rafique's first over and hit a boundary over the mid-on region to signal India's intentions of not wanting to let the spinners settle down.
Dravid reached his half-century in the 21st over of the innings, off 59 balls, inclusive of 10 boundaries. It was his 47th half-century in his 108th Test match.
At the other end, Karthik also coasted to his half-century, his third in Tests, off 87 deliveries, in the 24th over.
The first session of the opening day well and truly belonged to India as they reached 113 for 1 in 25 overs at lunch. Dravid was unbeaten on 52, while Karthik was not out on 54.
No Bangladesh bowler was able to make an impression. Mortaza may have given the home supporters some joy, claiming a wicket off the very first delivery, but after that it has been a struggle.
Bangladesh must now be hoping to at least control the flow of runs in the second session, if not pick wickets, else they are staring at a huge score. On their part, the Indian batsmen will just be hoping to carry on milking the runs and achieve their target of a big first innings score.
Meanwhile, it's just five minutes after the lunch break and it has started raining. The ground staff sprinted out to the middle with the covers as bright sunshine was replaced by a sudden, slight drizzle.
Post-Lunch session: (21 overs, 68 runs, 2 wickets)
The weather once again threw a spanner in the works, as rain delayed the start of play by 55 minutes after lunch.
The long rain-break seemed to have worked for Bangladesh. They got the wicket of Karthik in the seventh over after resumption when the right-hander tried to pull but got a leading edge that went straight to Ashraful.
But Karthik had done his job; his solid knock of 56 (102 balls, 9 boundaries), during which he added 124 runs for the second wicket with Dravid, laid a platform for the middle order.
As we have seen so often, one dismissal led to another. In the space of two overs, Dravid also joined Karthik on the sidelines. The Indian captain tried to cut a short delivery through the off-side, but the extra bounce forced him to edge the ball to the wicketkeeper.
Dravid played a fine innings of 61 from 99 deliveries, inclusive of 11 boundaries, as India were reduced to 132 for 3 in the 34th over.
One thought that Bangladesh would attack now and get Mortaza, their best bowler, in. But Bashar preferred to continue with his slow left-arm spinners. Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly must have been the most relieved to face the spinners on a flat, first day wicket.
Hossain bowled only two overs in his second spell, in which he got a wicket and even troubled Tendulkar with his bouncers, but, strangely, Bashar felt spin would be a better option. He did bring in Mortaza after a few overs, but, by then, the batsmen had settled and got their eye in.
Tendulkar played a couple of delightful shots through the off-side as he eased his way to 35 not out, inclusive of four boundaries. Ganguly was a bit more defensive, unbeaten on 16 from 32 balls, as India reached 181 for 3 in 46 overs at tea.
The two batsmen will be hoping to maintain the momentum.
A couple of wickets for Bangladesh after tea could well hand them the advantage at the end of the opening day.
Post-Tea session: (31 overs, 114 runs, 0 wicket)
The pitch was playing at its best and the batsmen faced no threat really, except for some indiscretion on their part. Tendulkar looked more settled of the two, but Ganguly was not far behind. His straight six over mid-off against Rafique to some extent was a reminder of his penchant for left-arm spinners.
The right-left combination was also another plus point for India, as the bowlers struggled to maintain a tight line with the regular change of strike.
Tendulkar reached his half-century in style, a boundary through the off-side to bring up his 44th fifty in Tests. In the same over, he stepped down to Enamul Haque Jr and played a full toss delightfully through the vacant mid-wicket region. That shot, in many ways, showed the control Tendulkar was having over the proceedings.
Ganguly reached his half-century, his 28th in Tests, in the 61st over of the innings. He took 85 deliveries to reach the milestone, hitting six boundaries and a six. In the next Rafique over, he once again stepped down and hit a trademark straight six and followed it up with a cracking boundary through the off-side.
Bashar tried several bowling changes, but none made an impact on the two senior batsmen.
At close on the opening day, India were a healthy 295 for 3 in 77 overs. Tendulkar was unbeaten on 80, hitting seven boundaries in his 137-ball knock. He was involved in an unbroken stand of 163 runs for the fourth wicket with Sourav Ganguly.
Ganguly played some delightful shots after a cautious start and was not out on 82. His 132-ball knock included 10 boundaries and two sixes.
The two batsmen's intelligent batting gave India the upper hand as early as the first day, even though 13 overs were lost to rain.
India faced a mini-crisis when they lost Karthik and Dravid in quick succession, but these two ensured no further causalities. Except for the wicket off the first ball, it turned out to be a perfect day for the visitors.
Just the other day, Dravid had said "experience doesn't count if you don't perform". How well Tendulkar and Ganguly responded to their captain's call!
The pitch was a bit slow, perfect for the batsmen with nothing in it for the bowlers. It is expected to hold good for two or three days. The Indians will be hoping to build on their advantage and post a big first innings total.
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