(From left) India's Mahendra Singh Dhoni, R.P. Singh, Dinesh Karthik and Rahul Dravid celebrate the dismissal of Bangladesh's Shahriar Nafees during the fifth day of the first Test in Chittagong yesterday. The rain-affected match ended in a draw. - Reuters CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh (Reuters):
BANGLADESH'S RAIN-affected first Test against India ended in a tame draw yesterday, even though the tourists had generously declared their second innings on 100 for six wickets.
Chasing a target of 250 runs, Bangladesh were 104 for two at the close of play which, as agreed by both captains, came 40 minutes ahead of schedule. Javed Omar (52) and Rajin Saleh (seven) were the not out batsmen.
Bangladesh's Mashrafe Mortaza was the man of the match. He took 4-97and then scored 79 for his maiden Test half century in Bangladesh's first innings of 238, helping them avoid the follow on after India had declared on 387.
Dravid praises Mortaza
India captain Rahul Dravid praised Mortaza's performance.
"Bangladesh are lucky to have a terrific player like Mortaza. He has a great prospect of becoming a genuine all-rounder," Dravid said.
India needed quick wickets in the 43 overs available to them on the final day and they made a breakthrough when Shahriar Nafees was caught by wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni off a delivery from R.P. Singh for just one run, shortly before tea.
However, they had to wait until the 21st over to get their next wicket when Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar (37) was caught by R.P. Singh at long-on off spinner Ramesh Powar. The Bangladesh batsmen then dug in.
Bashar thought the draw would prove a morale booster for Bangladesh.
"It is a psychological boost as we could fight back from a difficult situation," he said.
After overnight rain had held up play until mid-afternoon, India resumed their second innings on 44 for two, a lead of 193, but lost four wickets as they searched for quick runs.
Sachin Tendulkar (31) was bowled by left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique (3-27), who also removed Saurav Ganguly (13) and Powar (six). Mortaza claimed India's other wicket, Dinesh Karthik for 22.
The first three days of the opening match in the two-Test series were disrupted by the weather, with Sunday suffering a complete washout due to heavy rain.
