India set Bangladesh an imposing task of 415 to win

---

Rubel Hossain is ecstatic after sending back Sachin Tendulkar.

CHITTAGONG, Jan 20, (BSS): In-form Gautam Gambhir's fifth century in five consecutive Tests put India on the driving seat as they set Bangladesh an imposing 415 to win at the close on the fourth day of the first test match at Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here Wednesday.
The visitors have already made an early inroad as Imrul Kayes (1) and Shariar Nafees (21) are already back in the pavilion with the score board showing 67 for two wickets when the stumps were drawn for the day.
Tigers now face a Herculean task of scoring 348 for a win tomorrow on the fifth and final day of the match. Bangladesh team can think with pride that they have managed to take the match well into the fifth day with the help of some good bowling and determined batting. Besides, weather also somewhat contributed to Tigers' progress to the fifth day.
On a pitch that had become easier to bat on in comparison to the first innings, it will be worth watching how much Bangladesh batsmen have matured. The way the left-hand opener Tamim Iqbal batted today without taking any undue risks, his determination should be a lesson for the other batsmen.
Tamim remained unbeaten unperturbed on 23 with the help of three boundaries and batted for 53 deliveries while former national skipper Mohammad Ashraful who was pathetic in the first innings, have a task in his hand as he remained not out with 16 studded with three boundaries. These two not out batsmen should make sure that they do not lose their wickets in the first hour.
Imrul Kayes failed miserably, fending a rising Zaheer Khan delivery to wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik while Shahriar, despite weathering early storm succumb to Ishant out swinger, providing catch at gully to skipper Virender Sehwag for 21 off 27 deliveries laced with three boundaries.
Earlier India began the day with 123 for one wicket with Gautam Gambhir and night watchman Amit Mishra on the wicket.
Bangladesh were in defensive mood allowing Indians to accumulate runs at good rate. Gambhir helped himself on his way to his fifth second-innings century while Amit Mishra joined the party scoring his first Test fifty.
Bangladesh bowlers hardly could impress the Indian batsmen in the first session. Gambhir began reaching fifty in 10th straight Tests, one short of the record held by Viv Richards. From coming to one within Richards' record to moving to one within Don Bradman's - six hundreds in six Tests, as Gambhir made bowlers toil hard against indiscipline by the local bowlers.
Bangladesh fielders allowed both Gambhir and Mishra to be dropped once each on way to their milestones, Gambhir on 55 by Kayes, and Mishra on 41 by Nafees.
In typical fashion, as with his last four tons, Gambhir brought up the century by stepping out and hitting over the infield. He had for company the holder of the Indian record for most centuries in consecutive Tests, Rahul Dravid.
Rubel Hossain in the afternoon bowled with considerable speed at around 140kmph, and mixed in a fair number of bouncers. He was rewarded with Sachin Tendulkar's wicket and offered uncomfortable moments for Yuvraj Singh.
But VVS Laxman's unbeaten 69 allowed Indians to post 413 for eight as Sehwag decided to declare.
Bangladesh has scored 200 or more in the fourth innings of a Test only three times. Tigers scored 217 for 6 against West Indies, and the 413 against Sri Lanka featured a heart-breaking collapse from 403 for 6, in a chase of 521 in Mirpur.
Probably they would pull down the shutter and would love to bat the day out and meet India in the second test in Dhaka on January 23 with honour even here. They will need, both luck and weather to stop the Indians from going one up in the series.
India 1st innings:
Total (all out; 70.5 overs) 243
Bangladesh 1st innings:
Total (all out; 65.2 overs) 242
India 2nd innings :
G Gambhir 116 , V Sehwag 45, A Mishra 50, R Dravid 24, SR Tendulkar 16, VVS Laxman 69*, Yuvraj Singh 25, KD Karthik 27, Z Khan 20, I Sharma 7
Extras: (b 1, lb 5, w 3, nb 5) 14
Total: (8 wickets dec; 87 overs) 413
Bangladesh 2nd innings:
Tamim Iqbal not out 23
Imrul Kayes c Karthik b Khan 1
Shahriar Nafees c Sehwag b Sharma 21
Mohammad Ashraful not out 16
Extras: (b 4, lb 1, nb 1) 6
Total: (2 wickets; 18 overs) 67