CHITTAGONG: Indian pacemen Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma did the early damage to put Bangladesh under pressure in the opening Test today.

Bangladesh were well placed at 53-0 before slipping to 59-3 at stumps on the second day in reply to India’s first-innings total of 243, with Zaheer taking two wickets in successive overs and Sharma one. Raqibul Hasan was unbeaten on one and Mohammad Ashraful had yet to open his account when play was called off due to bad light.

Sachin Tendulkar earlier scored 105 not out under pressure for his 44th Test ton to boost India’s total. He cracked two sixes and 11 fours in his 166-ball knock. Bangladesh then got off to a sound start, with left-handed openers Tamim Iqbal (31) and Imrul Kayes (23) playing some attractive shots.

Iqbal was initially more aggressive, scoring 21 in the opening four overs before his partner opened his account. Kayes outscored Iqbal after lunch. Zaheer broke the partnership trapping Kayes leg before wicket. He then bowled Iqbal in his next over. Sharma’s lone victim was Shahriar Nafees, who was caught by Venkatsai Laxman at second slip.

India posted their lowest-ever total against Bangladesh despite Tendulkar’s century. Their previous lowest in a completed innings was 429 in Dhaka in 2000. India, reeling at 213-8 on Sunday, lost their remaining two wickets in less than eight overs in the morning, with left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan (5-62) and paceman Shahadat Hossain (5-71) finishing with five wickets apiece.

Tendulkar, who had only tail-enders Sharma and Sreesanth for company, went for shots early in pursuit of his century. Resuming on his overnight score of 76, he pulled Shahadat for a four in the first over after play resumed today, and then hoisted Shakib over long-on for a six. Tendulkar was on 93 when last-man Sreesanth joined him and completed his century with two successive fours off Shahadat.