Mashrafe Mortaza produced a fine all-round display to rescue Bangladesh on Day 4 of the first Test against India at the Chittagong Divisional stadium, in Chittagong, on Monday.
The 23-year-old all-rounder smashed a career-best 79 to help Bangladesh post 238 and avoid the follow-on after they were reeling at 149 for 8 at one stage in their innings.
India finished the day on 44 for 2 in 14 overs in the second innings, stretching their overall lead to 193 runs, with a day to go.
Wasim Jaffer again failed to score, being dismissed off the third ball of the innings, while Rahul Dravid was out for 2, courtesy a brilliant catch by Rajin Saleh at square leg.
Earlier, Mortaza counter attacked in style, hitting seven boundaries and three sixes in his 91-ball knock. The 23-year-old added 77 runs in a vital ninth-wicket stand with fellow-pacer Shahadat Hossain (31) that frustrated the visitors.
For India, R P Singh, a last-minute inclusion in the Test squad, produced a good showing with the ball to finish with 3 for 45. V R V Singh claimed 3 for 48, but didn't cause too many problems for the batsmen.
In the morning, India continued their first innings when play resumed after a rain-washed third day, but it lasted just two overs before a declaration came at 387 for 8, after 98.5 overs.
Morning session: (20.2 overs, 52 runs, 5 wickets)
Finally the match resumed after a full day's play was lost because of rain. Thanks to the hard work put in by the groundstaff since Sunday afternoon, after the rain stopped, play could start on time.
Strangely, India decided to continue batting on the fourth morning. Maybe they wanted Mahendra Singh Dhoni to play a few shots, just dent the Bangladeshis' confidence a bit and then declare after 10 overs or so.
But it was Bangladesh who struck the first blow.
Strangely, Anil Kumble did not walk in to bat with Dhoni as India resumed on 384 for 6.
Shahadat Hossain struck with the third delivery of the day when got Zaheer Khan caught behind for 0.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that Kumble did not come out to bat as he was indisposed, though there was no official word on that.
In fact, team media manager Surendra Bhave preferred not to answer any calls even after repeated attempts, something in sharp contrast to Bangladesh media manager Rabeed Imam, who is always available in the press box.
Dhoni also did not last long, falling in the next over and India were forced to declare the innings at 387 for 8, in 98.5 overs.
He tried to cut Mashrafe Mortaza, but could only hit the ball straight to Javed Omar at point after scoring 36.
On a pitch that had nothing for the bowlers, Mortaza finished with a haul of 4 for 97 and proved why is regarded as one of the world's top bowlers.
Hossain also bowled with lot of heart, taking 3 for 76.
The Indian bowlers now face the tough task of having to battle it out on a slow wicket against the Bangladesh batsmen, who are quite adept in such conditions. If Kumble is unavailable, the task becomes even tougher.
Bangladesh 1st innings:
India started with left-arm pacers Zaheer Khan and R P Singh. The two concentrated on maintaining a good line and length, forcing the Bangladesh batsmen to make mistakes.
Singh was rewarded for persistence. He had Javed Omar leg before wicket. The ball swung in and caught the batsman right in front of the stumps. The opener was out for 7 in the sixth over of the innings.
While it took 27 minutes for India to claim the first Bangladesh wicket, it needed just two more minutes for the next.
Captain Habibul Bashar, or Bangladesh's 'walking wicket', lasted just two balls before he lashed at a wide delivery outside the off-stump and edged the ball. Sachin Tendulkar neatly held the catch at first slip to give R P Singh the second wicket in the over.
The Uttar Pradesh paceman bowled with a lot of energy and looked most threatening of the three pacers in his first spell of six overs, in which he had figures of 2 for 15.
Zaheer Khan, who replaced Singh, then struck in the second over of his second spell. Shahriar Nafees looked solid during his knock of 36, but even he played a careless shot and threw his wicket away. He tried to drive a wide delivery through the off-side, but the ball swung a bit, taking the edge, and once again Tendulkar completed a good catch at first slip.
Once again the players were forced into the dressing room after a slight drizzle. Only 20.2 overs were bowled when the umpires called for the covers as the players rushed back.
Bangladesh reached 49 for 3 in 18.3 overs when the umpires called for an early lunch, with Rajin Saleh (5) and Mohammad Ashraful (2) at the crease.
It was an action-packed session, though, with wickets falling at regular intervals -- five in all, and all to pace bowlers.
Already a lot of time has been lost in the Test because of the unpredictable weather. Only 117.2 overs have been bowled in the match so far in the first four days and there might not be much action in the remaining one-and-half day as the match heads for a dreary draw.
Post-Lunch session ((34.3 overs, 111 runs, 5 wickets):
R P Singh struck in his first over after lunch, claiming the key wicket of Mohammad Ashraful for 5. The shorter delivery outside the off-stump bounced a bit and took the edge; Dinesh Karthik completed a good diving catch.
What a change in fortunes it was for R P Singh. Just a few days back he was packing his bags getting ready to go back to India after the ODI series, but he was asked to stay back for the Tests after an injury to S Sreesanth.
The left-arm did not get to play in the two one-dayers and here he was showing what India had missed. He was the only bowler who looked to be relishing the overcast conditions and used it to the fullest.
A few more wickets in the innings and he might end up booking his place for the tour of England next month.
Debutant Saqibul Hasan batted grittily with Rajin Saleh as the duo looked to play positively. The duo looked to attack at every possible opportunity and runs were coming at a fair pace.
But then the Indian bowlers pegged them back with two quick wickets Finally, VRV Singh struck with the wicket of Saqibul. The fast bowler looked ordinary throughout and never looked close to even picking a wicket. But he got lucky when Saqibul played on to his stumps after a good knock of 27 in his first outing in Test cricket.
Saqibul added 56 runs for the fifth wicket with Rajin Saleh as the duo looked to get Bangladesh out of trouble.
But then Saleh, who had by far looked the best Bangladesh batsman on the day, gave away his wicket. A cut shot off a short delivery from off-spinner Ramesh Powar and Saleh hit straight to Sourav Ganguly at point after a good innings.
The right-hander scored 41 from 80 deliveries, including six boundaries, to give the crowd something to cheer about in an otherwise poor display by the Bangladesh batsmen.
Suddenly it seemed as if India could grind out a result in their favour. So much time had been lost, but they still had a chance to win, weather permitting.
VRV Singh struck again and this time also he got lucky. Khaled Mashud was given leg before wicket to a full-pitched delivery, which seemed to hit him on the leg stump and could have gone on to miss the stumps. The Punjab fast bowler's second spell of 2 for 26 in seven overs finally did bring him some relief.
For Bangladesh there was no respite in sight as they lost their eighth wicket when Mohammad Rafique was stumped off Powar for 9.
With Mashrafe Mortaza fighting it out at the other end, it is interesting to see whether Bangladesh could avoid the follow-on.
Bangladesh were reduced to 149 for 8, needing another 39 runs to avoid the follow on. Mortaza battled it out bravely, smashing 33 from 43 deliveries, including four boundaries and a six, as Bangladesh scrambled to 160 for 8 in 53 overs at tea.
Shahadat Hossain was the other end, unbeaten on 1.
It was a good session for India. They scalped five Bangladesh wickets in 33.3 overs that were sent down.
R P Singh took one wicket to register figures of 3 for 30 in 15 overs, while V R V Singh (2 for 47) and Ramesh Powar (2 for 44) made good contribution with the ball.
R P Singh was clearly the best bowler in the session, bowling in the right areas and at a good pace. His occasional short, rising deliveries had the Bangladesh batsmen in all sort of problems. He showed a lot of energy and was a welcome sight in an otherwise dull Test match so far.
Bangladesh must consider themselves lucky that Anil Kumble is down with fever and not able to bowl; his absence has made their task a bit easier.
The focus after the tea break now lies on whether Mortaza can take Bangladesh past the follow-on. It was quite clear that should they achieve that end, a draw is the only possible result.
But if India does manage to enforce the follow-on, they have a good chance of winning the match despite so much time being lost to inclement weather.
Post-Tea session (29.2 overs, 122 runs, 4 wickets):
After tea, Bangladesh came out all guns blazing. Leading the charge was Mortaza. The tall fast bowler continued to attack and all the Indian bowlers suffered. His partner also grew in confidence watching him bat so solidly.
In the 59th over, Hossain slashed Zaheer Khan over the slips and pumped his fists in delight as Bangladesh avoided the follow-on. The runs just poured in after the tea break and the crowd had something to cheer about finally, after four days of rain interruptions and India's dominance.
Mortaza soon completed his half-century, his first in Test cricket, when he unleashed a powerful cut. The shot also brought up Bangladesh's 200 in the 60th over and, all of a sudden, India was doing all the running.
Sachin Tendulkar was introduced in the 62nd over after all the frontline bowlers were smashed around by the two batsmen. It was clear that Kumble was being missed big time.
Tendulkar struck in his third over when he dismissed Hossain with a beautiful googly that the batsman failed to read. But Hossain had done his job, playing an important part in avoiding the follow-on. He was bowled for 31, after a fine partnership of 77 runs off 109 deliveries with Mortaza, the highest of the Bangladesh innings. The right-hander, more renowned for his bowling before this knock, hit five boundaries in his 55-ball knock.
The Indian bowlers again failed to finish off things. Had they done it and dismissed the remaining two Bangladesh batsmen quickly, it could have been a different story.
But Tendulkar's googly failed to deceive the in-form Mortaza; instead, he carted it with disdain over the midwicket fence to bring up his third six of the innings. But his resistance ended in the next over. VRV Singh bowled a perfect yorker as Mortaza tried to make room, but could not keep it out and was bowled.
The 23-year-old got a huge applause from the sparse crowd at the stadium as he walked back after a delightful knock of 79. He hit 7 boundaries and 3 sixes in his 91-ball knock to finish as the top scorer of the innings after walking in to bat at number eight.
Bangladesh were bowled out for 238 in 68.2 overs, giving India a first innings lead of 149 runs.
For India, R P Singh was the best bowler of the innings, claiming 3 for 45 in his 17 overs. His fellow-pacer VRV Singh found it difficult on this flat pitch, with not much variety in his armoury, but still managed to take 3 for 48.
Ramesh Powar, who got some stick from Mortaza, finished with 2 for 66 in 17 overs.
The onus now rests on India as far as forcing a result is concerned. They missed their chance with the ball and it remains to be seen whether they will try and do something with the bat.
India second innings:
The Indian innings got off to an inauspicious start for the second time in the match. And once again it was Wasim Jaffer who lost his wicket in the first over.
The Mumbai batsman grabbed the infamous 'pair' (two ducks in the same match) when he was dismissed second ball of the innings, caught at mid-on trying to pull pacer Shahadat Hossain. It was a rather casual shot by Jaffer, who had perished off the very first ball in the Indian first innings.
It is quite clear that the opening slot has become a major worry for India, with no quick solution in sight. In fact, in an article some days back, rediff.com had highlighted how the opening combination had let the team down in several matches in the recent past and the trend still continues.
Dinesh Karthik and Rahul Dravid played nervously as India got off the mark in only the fourth over, when Karthik hit a boundary on the off-side as Mortaza pitched it short.
However, Hossain struck with a big wicket in the next over when he claimed the all-important wicket of captain Dravid. The right-hander tried to flick it through the leg-side and it seemed that the ball was heading towards the boundary, but suddenly in the picture came Rajin Saleh and plucked the catch out of mid air.
It was a brilliant effort and could easily be classified one of the best catches in Test history. Suddenly, it was the visitors who were feeling the heat after being reduced to 6 for 2 in the fourth over.
Sachin Tendulkar walked onto the middle with India in some sort of strife, but he continued with his good form in the first innings.
He did not hold back or try to defend; instead, he tried to attack at every possible moment. But with the light fading, he decided to shut shop and play for tomorrow.
At close on Day 4, India were 44 for 2 in 14 overs, an overall lead of 193 runs. Tendulkar was unbeaten on 24 from 36 deliveries, inclusive of two boundaries. Dinesh Karthik was not out on 15 from 35 balls, with one boundary.
Shahadat Hossain tested the Indian batsmen in the second innings, finishing the day with 2 for 18 from six overs.
Weather permitting, India do have a chance of making a match out this. Some quick runs in the first session and, maybe, they could then declare and try and have a go at the Bangladeshi batsmen. Their top order failed in the first innings, only to be rescued by Mortaza. India could try and do it again.
