India set Bangladesh 250 to win from 43 overs

Chittagong, May 22 (UNI) India made a sporting declaration of their second innings at 100 for six, setting Bangladesh a target of 250 to win from 43 overs on the final day of the rain affected first Test here today.

The visitors decided to make most of the 55 overs allotted on the final day to make a match out of a dead tie and decided to live dangerously.

And dangerous it looked as they threw caution to the wind scoring 56 runs from 10 overs bowled to them today.

They came out to bat with obvious orders from skipper Rahul Dravid to accelerate and at all cost. Dinesh Karthick was the first to go after hitting a sweetly pulled boundary off Mortaza. He tried the shot one time too many and was caught at square leg playing a false stroke for 22.

The next to go was Sachin Tendulkar, cleaned up by Mohd.

Rafique for 31. Rafique bolwed with tails up and in the space of next 24 balls picked up Sourav Ganguly caught in the deep off a mistimed pull and Ramesh Powar giving a sharp catch to Mashud for six.

Seven runs later, India declared at 100 for six, giving Bangladesh a run chase of 250 from 43 overs at 5.8 runs per over giving the fans something to look forward to after cricket and rains played hide and seek for the first four days.

Dhoni remained unbeaten on 17 that included a huge six and Zaheer on two.

Earlier, rain continued to play spoilsport as the last day's play began three hours and twenty minutes late after three inspections by umpires Daryl Harper and Billy Doctrove.

''We will have to wait and see how much the sun and wind help us. The groundsmen have done a tremendous job and I complement them for their efforts,'' Doctrove said after second inspection before the game resumed at 1400 hrs local time.

The first Test has lost 16 hours of play because of rain and the match otherwise looked interestingly poised at the draw of stumps yesterday with India at 44 for two in their second innings after takeing a 149-run first innings lead.

Three spells of heavy rain last night has left the ground in absolute mess with mud puddles. The mid-wicket region on either side of the ground has been badly affected.

The proceedings though started sooner than expected today with the groundstaff using super soppers and rug rollers to improve the ground conditions.

UNI