Bangladesh did not bat well, Sehwag says

Chittagong : Leg-spinner Amit Mishra grabbed four second session wickets as India completed a 113-run victory over hosts Bangladesh in the first Test yesterday.

Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim (101) was last man out following his maiden Test century, Mishra having him caught by substitute fielder Pragyan Ojha at long-off as the hosts were all out for 301.

Mushfiqur's century, in which he struck 17 fours and a six, was the highlight of an otherwise disappointing batting performance by the hosts.

Bangladesh resumed the final day on 67-2 chasing an unlikely 415 for victory but they were reduced to 136-5 at lunch after Virender Sehwag dismissed Tamim Iqbal for 52 and Ishant Sharma claimed the wickets of Mohammad Ashraful and Raqibul Hassan.

Mishra (4-92) then set to work wrapping up the bulk of the tail. Zaheer Khan claimed the other wicket of Mahmudullah for 20 after he was caught by Dinesh Karthik.

"They did not bat well. I think they bowled well in the first innings because the conditions were helping. But we batted well in the second innings. We put 400 runs on the board. It was difficult for Bangladesh to chase those runs," said Sehwag,

Sehwag led India in the game in the absence of injured regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Laxman to return home

Bangladesh's top-scorer Rahim said the first session on the fifth day proved decisive.

"We lost the match to a great extent in the first session after the fall of Tamim and Ashraful," he said. "If we could have got through the first session, they would have been under a lot of pressure in the next two sessions."

Meanwhile, star batsman Vangipurappu Laxman has been ruled out of second Test, beginning in Dhaka on January 24, through injury and will return home, a team official said.

Laxman damaged his left hand attempting a catch on the fourth day, requiring 10 stitches to patch up the injury.

"He will go back to home and no replacement will be called up," manager Arshad Ayub told reporters.

India were without regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for the first Test, but Ayub said the pair were recovering well and likely to play in the second Test.

SCOREBOARD

India first innings: 243

Bangladesh first innings: 242

India second innings: 413-8 declared

Bangladesh second innings

(overnight 67-2)

T. Iqbal c Dravid b Sehwag 52

I. Kayes c Karthik b Zaheer 1

S. Nafees c Sehwag b Ishant 21

M. Ashraful c Dravid b Ishant 27

R. Hassan lbw b Ishant 13

S. Hasan c Sehwag b Mishra 17