Mirpur: A sizzling 10 wickets haul by Zaheer and centuries from Dravid and Tendulkar helped India beat B'desh by 10 wickets in 2nd Test and win the series 2-0, retain top spot in rankings.
Bangladesh's brave fightback on the third day couldn't inspire the middle order to put further pressure on the Indians on the fourth morning as Zaheer Khan ran through the line-up with 7 for 87.
Zaheer at one stage had four wickets for four runs and when he cleaned up the tail, he took his first seven-for in a Test innings. Bangladesh managed to avoid an innings defeat and after lunch, India took just two balls to win the match and the series 2-0.
The visitors have a made a brilliant comeback on day four to grab quick six wickets in the morning session to decimate the Bangladesh batting line up. The home side have managed to score 312 and have set a target of just 2 runs. Zaheer Khan struck thrice in one over after Ojha struck in his consecutive overs. The batting approach today was totally baffling as just yesterday Bangladesh had scored 228 for the loss of just three wickets and showed application.
Zaheer's career-best effort has put Bangladesh on the brink of a heavy defeat. It was all so different at the drinks break, when Mohammad Ashraful and Shahadat Hossain made India toil and Bangladesh were looking to set a tall target. It was the Indian spinners who started the collapse, slowing their pace and giving the ball more air, to take three quick wickets.
Bangladesh's final seven wickets went down for 22 runs, undoing all the good work of the top order. India, though, will be thrilled their injury-riddled batting line-up hasn't be asked to do much in the final innings. Zaheer becomes the fourth Indian fast bowler to take ten wickets in a match away from home.
Zaheer took 3 wickets in an over and rocked the Bangladeshi camp in the morning session as the hosts managed to reach 312 for 9 at lunch.
Brief scores
Bangladesh: 233 (Mahmudullah 96*, Sharma 4-66, Zaheer Khan 3-62) and 312 (Tamim Iqbal 151, Siddique 55, Zaheer Khan 7-87)
India: 544 for 8 dec (Tendulkar 143, Dravid 111*, Dhoni 89) and 2 for 0
Result: India won by 10-wickets
MOM & Man of the series: Zaheer Khan (India)
Series: India wins by 2-0