Pacers brought India back into the match by reducing Bangladesh to 59 for three at tea on the second day of the weather-hit first cricket Test here today.
Strike bowler Zaheer Khan took two wickets while Ishant Sharma claimed one as Bangladesh, who were 21 for no loss at lunch break, lost three wickets in the space of 10 balls for just five runs in the middle session which started late by 15 minutes.
At tea break, which was taken early at 2:40 pm local time ahead of the scheduled 3:10 pm, Raqibul Hasan was batting on one while Mohammad Ashraful was yet to open his account as only over an hour of play was possible in the post-lunch session due to foggy conditions.
Replying to India's modest 243 all out, Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal (31) and Imrul Kayes (23) denied the Indians an early breakthrough but once the duo were separated 11 overs into the second session, two wickets fell in quick succession undoing the solid start.
Tamim and Kayes mixed caution with aggression and resisted the temptation of playing away from their body as the Indian pacers kept the ball outside their off stump. They played some delightful shots off Zaheer, Ishant and S Sreesanth whenever the ball was short of length.
Kayes hit two fours off Zaheer in the first over after lunch before striking another boundary off S Sreesanth. He then punished Ishant in his second over.
Kayes was the first to go, trapped leg before by Zaheer after he stitched a 53-run stand from 84 balls for the first wicket.
He played an angling Zaheer delivery across the line only to miss it and the ball hitting his pads in front of leg stump. Kayes hit five fours in his 46-ball innings.
Next over, Shahriar Nafees (4), who made it to the home team squad after severing ties with rebel Indian Cricket League, came in and left in a hurry to undo the good start as Bangladesh were reduced to 58 for two.
Zaheer reduced Bangladesh to 59 for three as he clean bowled Tamim, who was looking dangerous with some lusty blows off the Indian pacers. Tamim, who hit six fours in his 45-ball innings, failed to defend a delivery which kept low and nipped back after landing outside the off.
The second day's play started 90 minutes late due to bad light.
