India holds the initiative against Bangladesh

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Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim run hard between the wickets.

CHITTAGONG, Jan 19 (BSS): Indian batsmen made full use of their bowlers' hard work as they extended their lead to 123 with nine wickets in hand when bad light forced the stumps to be drawn on the third day of the first test match between Bangladesh and India at Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here Tuesday.
Bangladesh resuming at 59 for three wickets quickly got into trouble as they crashed to 98 for 6.
Former skipper Mohammad Ashraful despite being dropped by Laxman at third slip before he opened his account, failed to take advantage of the reprieve as Rahul Dravid made no mistake to dismiss him for a painstaking 2 off Ishant Sharama.
Skipper Shakib al Hasan opted to attack as Indian seamers were time and again beating the bat. He slammed four boundaries in his 17 runs knock but his breezy innings was cut short by Zaheer Khan, as Indian captain Sehwag made no mistake to catch his rival skipper.
Raqibul Hasan (17), after weathering the early storm looked like setting to its groove.
Sreesanth made one of his deliveries cut back sharply as Dinesh Karthik behind the stumps took a fine catch. Suddenly the Tigers were reeling at 98 for six and the visitor looked like taking a healthy first innings lead.
Mahmudullah, who was in tremendous form in Tri-Nation Idea Cup, once again rose on the occasion well supported by wicketkeeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, stopped the rot with some sensible batting.
They put on priceless 108 runs for the seventh wicket stand when it looked like that Bangladesh were on the verge of taking a psychological advantage, common sense deserted them. First it was Mushfiqure, who worked hard to repair damage time and again talking to Mahmudullah not to take unnecessary risks. Just when he reached 44 runs he lashed a widish Misra delivery to offer a dolly catch.
Shahadat Hossain came out to replace Rahim played like a typical number nine batsman living dangerously.
On the other hand, Mahmudullah continued his good work and went past his maiden Test fifty.
Just on the brink of tea, Shahadat (11) failed to control his calypso attitude, went out of his block, tried to hit Mishra out of the ground only in the end offered a sitter to Yuv Raj Singh.
Tigers went into tea at 228 for eight and Bangladesh tail failed to wag further as Mahmudullah in a bid to take the strike edged Sreesanth to Dinesh Karthik. He scored a superb 69 runs studded with eleven boundaries.
Debutant Shafiul Islam scored his first run in test cricket with a six but that signalled the end of Bangladesh first inning, one run behind India's total 243.
Bangladesh lost wickets in clusters: the last four for 36 runs, and the first six for 45.
Zaheer Khan with three for 54, Mishra three for 66, Ishant Sharma two for 47 and Sreesanth with two for 55 all shared the Bangladesh spoils.
Indians with one run's lead saw Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir start their second innings in a flurry, showing some respect to Shahadat, but Shafiul and Rubel Hossain were treated with disdain. Shakib had to come early as Sehwag and Gambhir had added 56 in 10 overs.
Sehwag was trying to be too adventurous and paid his price as he departed off Shakib for 44 off 58 deliveries with four boundaries and one effortless six.
Misra came in as night watchman despite living dangerously remained unbeaten on 24 off 21 deliveries while Gambhir looked set for a big innings as he remained unbeaten on 47 off 56.
India 1st innings:
Total: 243
Bangladesh 1st innings:
Total: (all out; 65.2
overs) 242
India 2nd innings:
G Gambhir not out 47
V Sehwag 45
A Mishra not out 24
Extras: (lb 5, nb 1) 6
Total: (1 wicket; 22.2 overs) 122 (5.46 runs per over)