Tigers turn chicken

Bangladesh returned to the dark old days of their early days in Test cricket as their batsmen meekly surrendered in reply to a huge score. India finally declared on 610-3 with the top four all scoring centuries, the first time that had happened in Tests.

India's Dinesh Karthik celebrates his century against Bangladesh with team mate Sachin Tendulkar (R) during the second day of their second test cricket match in Dhaka yesterday. REUTERS

Sachin Tendulkar hit his 37th Test ton, Rahul Dravid his 24th and wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik his first.

They all followed Wasim Jaffer's 138 on Friday, and Bangladesh were a feeble 58-5 at stumps on day two in Dhaka.

Karthik, who had retired with cramp on Friday, returned to reach his century while Jaffer sat out the day with heat exhasution. Dravid (129) hit 15 boundaries before he cut spinner Mohammad Rafique to Javed Omar.

And Karthik, who was dropped three times, finally top-edged a pull to be caught on the leg side for 129. Tendulkar finished on 122 not out, and after Sourav Ganguly became the only Indian to fail, Mahendra Dhoni's 51 off 50 balls - including three sixes in one Mohammad Rafique over - allowed a declaration after tea.

Zaheer’s first delivery had Javed Omar fencing to slip, and - after Habibul Bashar had gloved RP Singh behind - Zaheer then clean bowled a leaden-footed Shahriar Nafees and bent his next ball into Mohammad Ashraful's pads in front of the middle. Rajin Saleh and Saiqbul Hasan attempted a recovery after both being dropped early on, but in Anil Kumble's first over, the veteran leg-spinner had Saleh caught close in. -BBC