The Great Game Called Cricket...

India wanted to build on the strong foundation laid by openers Virender Sehwag (56) and Gautam Gambhir (68) to ensure they don’t have to bat again. And Rahul Dravid (79*) and Sachin Tendulkar (89*) are still on the job. Despite a few anxious moments and a whole lot of luck, the two maestros took India to tea at 301 for 2, giving a lead of 68 runs over Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh fast bowlers bowled their hearts out and were also able to pose some trouble to the Indian greats. Shahadat Hossain made the batsmen play at most deliveries, bowling a good line and length. Rubel Hossain, despite bowling well, was spurned by the Lady Luck.

After dismissing Dravid off a no-ball in the first session, Raqibul Hasan added to the pacer’s agony by dropping Tendulkar at point. Rubel also sighed in despair as he saw the ball sneak through the gap between Tendulkar’s bat and stumps and run away to the fence.

Dravid and Tendulkar, like all great batsmen do, made the opposition pay for the lapses, with a fine 155-run unbroken partnership. This was the 17th occasion when the two stalwarts of Indian cricket had added 100-plus runs in a Test innings – a world record. On the way, they also completed their respective half-centuries.

Dravid’s unbeaten 79 had all the ingredients one would associate with his typical innings – the rock-solid defense, the gorgeous cover-drives, the elegant leg-glances and the unwavering concentration. It also comprised a couple of flowing hits to the fence.

Tendulkar, on the other hand was more adventurous, dealing in upper-cuts and sweeps. He rode his luck throughout his knock, as catches were dropped and ill-connected shots didn’t carry to the fielders. Tendulkar fetched five of his nine boundaries on the leg-side, with the help of paddle-sweeps and leg-glances.