DHAKA: Mohammad Mahmudullah cracked an unbeaten 96 under pressure but failed to stop India from gaining an upper hand in the second and final Test against Bangladesh here today.

Bangladesh were wobbling at 51-5 before posting 233, thanks to lower-order batsman Mahmudullah who kept the Indian attack at bay with a gutsy 156-ball knock. India raced to 69-0 in reply at stumps, with Virender Sehwag (41 not out) and Gautam Gambhir (26 not out) at the crease.

The visitors were indebted to pacemen Ishant Sharma (4-66) and Zaheer Khan (3-62) for restricting Bangladesh to a modest total. Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha was the other main wicket-taker with 2-49. Bangladesh were 106-6 when Mahmudullah walked in to bat, but India had to struggle for the remaining wickets as he put on 58 useful runs for the ninth wicket with Shafiul Islam, who contributed only nine.

Mahmudullah was on 80 when last-man Rubel Hossain joined him but could manage only 16. He hit 13 fours. Harbhajan finished the innings when he bowled Rubel for his lone victim, leaving Mahmudullah just four short of his maiden Test hundred.

India’s bowlers were superbly supported by wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who took three catches and two stumpings. Most of the Bangladeshi batsmen failed to apply themselves, with Mohammad Ashraful (39), skipper Shakib al Hasan (34) and Mushfiqur Rahim (30) all getting out when looking well-set.

India gained an early advantage when they left the hosts reeling at 84-5, with Zaheer and Sharma taking two wickets apiece and Ojha one. Ashraful hit six fours in his 31-ball knock, while Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique and Raqibul Hasan all failed to reach double figures.