On this day in 2007, four batsmen from India scored a Test century as they went on to thrash Bangladesh by an innings and 239 runs at Dhaka.
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India’s record in Test matches against Bangladesh makes for poor reading as far as the latter team is concerned. In 11 Test matches, the Tigers have lost on 9 occasions and drawn only twice. Of those 9 losses, five have been by a margin of an innings. The foundation for the most dominant of those 9 wins for India was laid on this day exactly 14 years ago. In the second match of a two-Test series, India beat Bangladesh by a whopping innings and 239 runs. In the process, they sealed the series 1-0. It also saw India notch a unique batting record.
On day 1 of the Test, it was Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik who walked out to bat. The two put together 175 for the first wicket before Karthik retired due to cramps.
Out came Rahul Dravid, who along with Jaffer, took the score to 281. Jaffer brought up his ton but also retired due to cramps. Dravid was then joined by Sachin Tendulkar.
The two stalwarts then put together a century stand of their own. Amazingly, India crossed the 400-run mark without technically losing a wicket.
Yet, with 6 runs needed to break the opening stand record of 413 set by Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad, Dravid departed. By that point he too had scored a ton.
Karthik came back to bat and completed his own century, as did Tendulkar. When Karthik departed, the Men in Blue were 493-2. To make matters worse, MS Dhoni then scored a half-century.
India would eventually declare at 610-3.
In response, Bangladesh were unable to do much. They were dismissed for 118 in their first innings, with Zaheer Khan taking a fifer. The follow-on was duly enforced.
Bangladesh showed some fight in the second innings. Mohammad Ashraful scored a half-century, as did Mashrafe Mortaza. However, their total of 288 was not enough to avoid an innings defeat.
By that point, Bangladesh were a more than competent white-ball side. Indeed, they had beaten India in the 2007 World Cup earlier that year – and knocked them out of the tournament.
However, they left a lot to be desired as a Test side. The Indians too faced their issues in SENA nations but in the subcontinent were untouchable.
