India in run-rush to end opening day at 326 for no loss

Dhaka, May 25 (UNI) Wasim Jaffer hit an elegant ton as India piled up a commanding 326 for no loss against Banglasdesh at the close of the opening day's play in the second Test at Mirpur Stadium here today.

Jaffer, who failed to score in both the innings in the first Test, retired hurt on 138 after hitting his third century in 19 matches. India were on 281 at that stage.

Earlier, Dinesh Kaarthik retired on 82, with severe cramps, at tea with India on 175.

At stumps captain Rahul Dravid was batting on 88 and giving him company was Sachin Tendulkar on nine, eyeing the second century of the tour. While Dravid walked in after Kaarthick retired, Sachin came in after Jaffer walked out dehydrated.

Dravid looked effortless as he eased into the groove and went about collecting runs. He reached 49th half-century of his career off 75 balls with seven hits to the fence.

The Indian skipper neared another Test century as he finished the day 12 runs short, with some glorious strokes on both sides of the wicket that had 11 fours and one six.

The Bangladesh bowlers could not cut any impression as the Indian innings chugged along at a yawning pace on a dead-as-dodo track before the insipid attack. Bangla skipper Habibul Bashar took the new ball in the 82nd over but to no avail, as India notched up their 300 with a glorious boundary from Dravid.

It was a good toss to lose for India, as Basher's decision backfired with the batsmen making merry on a good strip after seeing off the first two hours cautiously. The tentativeness of the morning session was gone and as the sun shone brightly on the beautiful park, Kaarthick and Jaffer also dazzled.

The strapping Mumbai opener was a picture of concentration willing to erase the pair as fast as he could. He drove the bowlers repeatedly of the front foot and a square drive off Mohammed Sharif in his first over remained the signature shot of the morning.

Undefeated at 40 with six hits to the fence at lunch he looked set for a big one here to shut up his detractors. Jaffer brought up his 50, pulling Rasel to the mid-wicket boundary, which also brought up India's 100.

India raced to their 200 in the post tea session even as Jaffer drove Rafique over long on to post his century in 185 balls, studded with 13 boundaries.

However, the Mumbai opener began the post lunch session driving Rafique uppishly for an easy caught-and-bowled opportunity that the bowler allowed to slip through his fingers. Having given a life at 42 for that minor aberration in concentration, he went back to his usual self.

Dinesh's innings ranged from being cautious and circumspect to being sublime.

The first over he faced after lunch was a treat to watch as he straight drove Mortaza for two boundaries before flicking him for a third of his legs. Mortaza limped off the field the next over with a sprained left ankle, but there were no pulling corks on Kaarthick as he opened the face of the bat to hit Rasel for another cerebral boundary clinically dissecting the second slip and gully.

The dropped chance of Kaarthick at 10 in the second slip by Sakib-al-Hasan off Sayed Rasel was costly as he grew in confidence stepping out to hit Rafique for two boundaries to bring his fourth Test half-century, that was studded with eight hits to the fence.

In the morning, India made a painstakingly slow start with the two openers looking in no hurry to score the runs. While the juice in the wicket gave some aid to the bowlers, the pitch was generally slow with the odd ball stopping after landing. Strokeplay was difficult and the Indian openers got into their shelves waiting for the sun to grow in strength and dry out the advantage.

Earleir, the hosts recalled 21-year-old fast bowler Mohammad Sharif, who played the last of his eight Tests in 2002, at the expense of Enamul Haque Jnr, and Syed Rasel made it to the XI with Shahadat Hossain down with fever.

India handed a first Test cap to Ishant Sharma, the rookie fast bowler from Delhi, who was called up after Munaf Patel flew home injured.

Veteran leggie Anil Kumble did not bowl in the last game owing to a viral fever, but is fit to play here. India can only hope that he would get some rich rewards and lend some teeth to the bowling which otherwise looked very ordinary at Chittagong.

Both teams were hoping for a rain-free match after bad weather wiped out any prospect of a result in first Test. However, scattered clouds over the ground kept the groundsmen on their feet.

UNI