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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Images: India whitewash Bangladesh
This article was first published 14 years ago

Images: India whitewash Bangladesh

Last updated on: January 27, 2010 14:05 IST

Image: India captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni takes the catch to dismiss Mohammad Ashraful
Photographs: Reuters

Mohammad Ashraful and nightwatchman Shahadat Hossain added 62 runs in the morning to put India under a little bit of pressure before Pragyan Ojha made the breakthrough on day four of the second and final Test in Mirpur, Dhaka on Wednesday..

Shahadat was the first batsman out for a career-best 40 as substitute fielder Amit Mishra held on to a catch at long-on, before Ashraful followed in the next over when he was caught by Dhoni off Harbhajan for 25.

Zaheer Khan produced a devastating spell of swing bowling to decimate Bangladesh with a career-best seven for 87 as India crushed the hosts by 10 wickets in the second Test and clinch the two-match series 2-0.

Zaheer completes ninth five-wicket haul

Image: Indian players congratulate Zaheer Khan (right) after he dismissed Raqibul Hasan

After the spinners had taken three quick wickets, Zaheer then took over and ended any hopes Bangladesh had of setting a decent target with three wickets in the space of four balls.

In an exquisite display of reverse swing, Zaheer bowled Raqibul Hassan for five and completed his ninth five-wicket haul by removing Mahmudullah, who followed his unbeaten 96 in first innings with second-ball duck.

Zaheer decimates Bangladesh

Image: Rubel Hossain's stumps are sent crashing by Zaheer Khan

The left-arm pacer set up a hat-trick opportunity by uprooting the off-stump of Shafiul Islam with the next ball.

Rubel Hossain survived his first delivery and also helped ensure Bangladesh would avoid an innings defeat.

Mushfiqur Rahim (10 not out) struck Harbhajan for two boundaries in the next over to help Bangladesh wipe out India's first innings lead before Zaheer returned after lunch to take the final wicket and finish with career-best figures of seven for 87.

India complete easy victory

Image: Gautam Gambhir (left) and Virender Sehwag (center) congratulate Zaheer Khan

Bangladesh had resumed on 228-3 but lost their last seven wickets for only 22 runs to be dismissed for 312 in the first over after the fourth day lunch interval, Zaheer capping a bowling masterclass to seal a maiden 10-wicket haul .

India, who had forged a 311-run first innings lead, got the two runs needed through leg byes off the second ball of their second innings, following up last week's 113-run first Test win with another comprehensive triumph.

'I still need to work on my fitness'

Image: Zaheer Khan holds the man of the match trophy

Zaheer, who was adjudged both Man of the Match and Man of the Series, became only the fourth Indian fast bowler to take 10 wickets in an away Test.

"It was tough as the wicket was slow but once it started getting reverse swing, it started going the bowlers' way. They had started well and needed to be pulled back. I am happy the way my spell went today and it has boosted my morale," said Zaheer.

"I still need to work on my fitness. My shoulder needs to be monitored and I have do the rehab exercises. I need to bowl more and more and I am looking forward to the South Africa series," he said.

Dhoni lauds bowlers after series win

Image: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni holds the winners trophy

Dhoni singled out star performer Zaheer Khan for the team's 2-0 series victory.

"It was a difficult task to get wickets in this track, both for spinners and pacers. But all credit goes to the bowlers. They really put their best to get those 20 wickets, especially Zaheer's spell," Dhoni said.

However, Dhoni sounded a bit worried about the number of injuries that haunted his side in this series.

"The series was full of injuries so I am a bit worried. But with the amount of cricket that we play these days, it's is ok. I hope the players (VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh) are fit before the South Africa series," he said.