Tendulkar, Dravid tons put India in command

Sachin Tendulkar cracked his 45th Test century and Rahul Dravid his 29th hundred as India tightened the screws on Bangladesh in the second and final Test yesterday.

Tendulkar made 143 and Dravid 111 before retiring hurt to help India post a massive 459-5 in their first innings at stumps on the second day in reply to Bangladesh's total of 233.

The visitors were 226 runs ahead with five wickets in hand. Dravid was struck on the helmet while avoiding a bouncer from paceman Shahadat Hossain, bowling with the second new ball. He hit 12 fours in his 188-ball knock.

India's batting might was on view throughout the day as they scored 390 after resuming at 69 for no loss, with all of their top-order batsmen making sizeable contributions.

Gautam Gambhir (68) and Virender Sehwag (56) put on 103 for the opening wicket before Tendulkar and Dravid consolidated their team's position with a 222-run stand for the third wicket.

Gambhir also equalled West Indian Viv Richards's world record of scoring a half-century in 11 successive Tests. Tendulkar, who scored a century in the last Test, was caught by Imrul Kayes at mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan. His

182-ball knock contained one six and 13 fours.

Shakib took his second wicket when he had Murali Vijay (30) caught by Mohammad Mahmudullah at mid-on. It was a disappointing day for Bangladesh, who not only struggled to take wickets but also failed to make the most of the chances that came their way.

Tendulkar was let off on 27 by Raqibul Hasan at gully off seamer Rubel Hossain before reaching his half-century. He offered a difficult chance after completing his half-century when he tried to upper-cut Shahadat, but Raqibul failed to latch on to the ball at point.

Dravid was on 28 when he edged a short-pitched delivery from Rubel into the slips, where Junaid Siddique took a superb catch, but it was ruled a no-ball.

Bangladesh removed both the openers in the first session with short-pitched deliveries but had to wait for more than a session for the next success as Tendulkar and Dravid batted with determination.

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