India has the last laugh

By Vijay Lokapally

DHAKA, NOV. 13. It took less than two sessions to separate the teams which otherwise looked so evenly matched in this contest. If gloom replaced ecstasy at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, it was quite understandable for the home team had suddenly fallen on poor ways.

The fourth day seemed to have obliterated all the good work of the first three as Bangladesh, having run out of steam, was propelled towards a defeat. It would be sad if the home supporters remembered their team just for the second innings slump and not the encouraging show until Bangladesh came face to face with the reality that it has a lot to learn to survive in the big league of Test cricket.

Not that India had transformed overnight into an all- devouring giant. The problem with the Bangladesh team was its inability to meet the high standards set on the first two days. The batsmen reversed their roles and played some one-day strokes to present India the game on a platter.

Conceding a first-innings lead of 29 runs, Bangladesh capitulated in a little less than four hours. The home team was bowled out for 91, leaving India a victory target of 63 runs, a formality which was achieved duly with floodlights providing the batsmen means to finish the job in style with nine wickets and a day to spare.

It was India's first Test win abroad in seven years and 22 matches, even though skipper Sourav Ganguly does not consider Bangladesh overseas. ``It is part of the sub-continent'' he had remarked on the eve of the match. India's last Test win abroad had come at Colombo against Sri Lanka in 1993.

Cause for concern

Even in the triumph here, the Indians had plenty to worry about, particularly the quality of bowling, regardless of the second innings misery it inflicted on the opposition. The Indian bowlers, so acutely embarrassed in the first innings, shared the spoils today, even as Rahul Dravid played a few hooks and pulls to make the most of the hapless Bangladesh attack as India cruised to victory, with young Shiv Sunder Das hitting the winning boundary.

For a team playing its first ever Test, Bangladesh's decline, even if rapid, was not out of tune. Aminul Islam appeared to have given his best and it was too much to expect him to grind the Indian attack again. The team had no one else to graft and play the sheet anchor role.

The Indian lower half did well to carry the team past the opposition total, thanks mainly to Sunil Joshi, who missed his century by eight runs. A half-hearted drive flew in an arc to mid-off and it was a tame end to an innings of commitment, so well reflected in the 56-run stand he compiled with Ajit Agarkar.

There had been uncertainty in the Indian dressing room regarding the course of the match even as it resumed the day at 366 for seven. The idea was to accumulate quick runs and then gun for the opposition, which lacked the experience to produce another quality performance in such a short time.

The Indians did not impress in the initial stages. Javagal Srinath, desperate for a wicket, bounced and explored ways to intimidate the opposition. One such delivery saw opener Shahriar Hossain duck and end up with a blow on the shoulder. Not a good sign, and he left the scene in pain.

Two men in catching positions on the leg side gave Srinath's pace a flattering look but the damage was done by Agarkar. Srinath did not redeem his reputation by pounding the ball too short and had to wait long to claim his first victim - Naimur Rahman, out fending the ball.

The Indians had stepped on to the field with a plan in mind. It was clear that they were keen to snatch the advantage after gaining a 29-run first innings lead. The methods adopted did not convince initially, since the bowlers displayed an aggression which was misplaced.

Appealing more than required did not earn them any marks and there was this instance of Zaheer Khan being spoken to by umpire Steve Bucknor after he hurled the ball at Islam in disgust. The batsman was not attempting any run and the young bowler was rightly cautioned by the umpire.

Soft dismissals

Bangladesh surprisingly lacked the will to fight. And the skill, too, as the Indian bowlers thrived through some soft dismissals. It may have been a let down for the home crowd but certainly not worth a condemnation. Bangladesh had made a spirited debut and the experience gathered in the debacle should help the team grow in temperament in its future battles in the big league.

The slide began with Mehrab Hossain edging a square drive, which was taken well by Murali Kartik, low at point. The dismissal brought Islam, Bangladesh's premier batsman, to the crease earlier than he would have been prepared to and now began an intense tussle between him and Agarkar.

Islam looked confident and he was at ease against the attack when Agarkar trapped him in front. The joy displayed by the Indian bowler, with the fielders converging on him, was ample proof of how much Islam's wicket meant to the team. Half the battle was won with that one big dent in the Bangladesh innings.

Even as Joshi struck by foxing Al Shahriar in flight, it was Agarkar who impressed with the wicket of Habibul Bashar. Knowing well that he is a compulsive strokemaker, Agarkar let go a few short balls at Bashar, who fell into the trap by trying to put the ball into the stands, only to present the man at long-leg with a sitter. It was an undisciplined act by Bashar and soon there was more trouble when Akram Khan was adjudged caught at short-leg. The batsman was disappointed at the decision and Bangladesh was now hurtling towards a defeat.

Naimur Rahman and Mohammad Rafique became Srinath's victims, beaten by pace and bounce as the Karnataka speedster at last found his rhythm. In between, Shahriar Hossain, who made a shaky return to the crease, perished leg-before offering no shot and when Hasibul Hossain was also trapped in front, the Bangladesh innings had collapsed in a most ungainly manner.

As the crowd melted after Bangladesh's defeat, they must have had a disturbing conclusion in their mind: this was a side very different from the one which had excelled on the first three days.

Joshi, adjudged the `man of the match', dedicated the honour to Ganguly for the confidence the Indian skipper reposed in him. ``I think he had more faith in me than I had myself. I hope to do well in Tests now in the times to come,'' said the Karnataka left-arm spinner, branded a one-day specialist by the selectors.

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