May 28, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1428

DHAKA, May 27: Left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan grabbed a match-haul of seven wickets as India thumped Bangladesh by an innings and 239 runs with two days to spare in the second and final Test here on Sunday.

Bangladesh, who were forced to follow-on 492 runs behind after being shot out for 118 in their first innings, were dismissed for 253 in their second knock just before stumps on the third day.

It was India's biggest victory margin in Test cricket, surpassing their innings and 219-run win over Mark Taylor's Australia at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata in 1998.

Rahul Dravid's men won the series 1-0 following a draw in the rain-hit first Test in Chittagong, and provided a birthday gift for interim coach Ravi Shastri, who turned 45 on Sunday.

Bangladesh's outgoing coach Dav Whatmore was not so lucky, ending his four-year tenure with them with the team's 40th defeat in 46 Test matches so far.

Bangladesh have won just one Test while five were drawn.

“It was a good win in tough conditions,” said Dravid. “We did well to put up a big score but all credit to the bowlers for dismissing Bangladesh twice in such a short time.

“I try to keep a balance in victory and defeat. This was a sort of no-win situation for us because we were expected to beat Bangladesh. Had we lost, it would have created a furore.

“We came here to play good cricket and I think we achieved that. We have a tough tour ahead of England next month and the preparations for that will be very different.”

Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar said he may have erred in choosing to field first on a lifeless wicket, but admitted the team did not bat well enough.

“Yes, we should have batted first but we also should not have got out cheaply twice on this wicket,” he said.

“It only goes to show how inexperienced we are in playing Test cricket. There is a lot to learn from the Indians.”

Zaheer, who claimed 5-34 in the first innings, rattled Bangladesh with the two quick second innings wickets on either side of the lunch break at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

The hosts were reduced to 10-3 soon after lunch before 22-year-old Mohammad Ashraful boosted the total with a breathtaking counter-attack that fetched him 67 off 41 balls.

Ashraful raced to 50 off just 26 deliveries, narrowly missing South African Jacques Kallis' world record of the fastest half-century in Test cricket in 24 balls against Zimbabwe in 2004.

Ashraful smashed 12 boundaries and two sixes with a flurry of drives, pulls and lofted shots that drew wild cheers from some 10,000 home fans who braved the hot and humid weather.

Bangladesh slipped to 154-7 before tailender Mashrafe Mortaza delayed the end with a stroke-filled 70 off 68 balls that contained eight fours and three sixes.

Rajin Saleh (42) was the only other home batsman to offer resistance against the Indian spinners, for whom Ramesh Powar picked up 3-33 and Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar took two wickets each.

Zaheer, who had taken three wickets the previous evening after India piled up 610-3 declared, struck with the day's second delivery when Bangladesh started at 58-5.

The first Test in Chittagong was drawn after rain washed out 15 of the scheduled 30 hours of play.

India also won the preceding one-day series 2-0 to make amends for their shock World Cup defeat at Bangladesh's hands.

Scoreboard

INDIA (1st Innings: 610-3 declared (Wasim Jaffer 138 retired hurt, K.D. Karthik 129, R. Dravid 129, S.R. Tendulkar 122 not out).

BANGLADESH (1st Innings, overnight 58-5):

Javed Omar c Karthik b Zaheer 0

Shahriar Nafees b Zaheer 2

Habibul Bashar c Dhoni b Singh 4

Rajin Saleh c Jaffer b Kumble 20

Mohammad Ashraful lbw b Zaheer 0

Saqibul Hasan lbw b Zaheer 30

Mohammad Sharif lbw b Kumble 13

Khaled Mashud c Dhoni b Kumble 25

Mashrafe Mortaza c Kumble b Sharma 2

Mohammad Rafique b Zaheer 12

Syed Rasel not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-6) 8

TOTAL (all out, 37.2 overs) 118

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-5, 3-7, 4-7, 5-40, 6-58,

7-85, 8-93, 9-110.

BOWLING: Zaheer Khan 10-1-34-5 (2nb); R.P. Singh 9-2-28-1; Kumble 9.2-3-32-3; Sharma 7-1-19-1 (1nb); Powar 2-1-3-0.

BANGLADESH (2nd Innings, following-on):

Javed Omar c Dhoni b Zaheer 0

Shahriar Nafees c Dhoni b Singh 4

Habibul Bashar c Dravid b Zaheer 5

Rajin Saleh c Ganguly b Powar 42

Mohammad Ashraful c Tendulkar b Kumble 67

Saqibul Hasan c Dravid b Powar 15

Khaled Mashud c Tendulkar b Powar 8

Mashrafe Mortaza c Dhoni b Tendulkar 70

Mohammad Sharif c and b Kumble 17

Mohammad Rafique lbw b Tendulkar 11

Syed Rasel not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-3, NB-9) 13

TOTAL (all out, 57.3 overs) 253

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-10, 3-10, 4-91, 5-135, 6-150, 7-154, 8-208, 9-223.

BOWLING: Zaheer Khan 8-1-54-2 (4nb); R.P. Singh 6-1-28-1; Sharma 6-1-30-0 (1nb); Kumble 15-1-72-2 (4nb); Powar 16-4-33-3 (3w); Tendulkar 6.3-1-35-2.

RESULT: India won by an innings and 239 runs to win series 1-0.

UMPIRES: D.J. Harper (Australia) and B.R. Doctrove (West Indies).

TV UMPIRE: Nadir Shah (Bangladesh).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Mahanama (Sri Lanka).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Zaheer Khan.

MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Sachin Tendulkar.

FIRST TEST: Chittagong, match drawn.

—AFP