Hosts crumble as India pile huge total

Dhaka, May 26:

Bangladesh crumbled to 58-5 on Saturday after India’s four top batsmen smashed confident centuries to build a massive first innings total in the second and final Test.

Opener Dinesh Karthick hit 129, Wasim Jaffar retired hurt at 138, captain Rahul Dravid made 129 and Sachin Tendulkar was unbeaten on 122 when India declared its innings at 610-3 shortly after tea. Mohindra Dhoni (51) brought up his half century to confirm India’s dominance of the Test.

In reply, Bangladesh began its run-chase dismally, losing five wickets in the remaining 16 overs of the day.

Zaheer Khan dismissed Javed Omar for a duck with the very first ball of the innings, and claimed the wickets of Shahriar Nafees (2) and Mohammad Ashraful (0) to finish the day with figures of 3-20.

Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar was caught behind for a duck by wicketkeeper Dhoni off RP Singh, while Anil Kumble dismissed Rajin Saleh for 20. Shakib al Hasan (30) and Mohammad Sharif (0) were unbeaten at stumps.