DHAKA, 11 December 2004 — Anil Kumble became India’s highest Test wicket-taker on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh yesterday as the home side were dismissed for 184.
The leg-spinner broke Kapil Dev’s mark of 434 wickets as he trapped Mohammad Rafique lbw before accounting for Tapash Baisya with his next delivery. Fast bowler Irfan Pathan also found himself on a hat trick twice, finishing with 5-16 as India tore into the Bangladeshi order. Kumble, 34, waited for more than a session for his moment as Pathan had grabbed his maiden five-wicket haul to do the early damage with fellow seamer Zaheer Khan (2-51).
Kumble raised his hands in jubilation and was greeted by teammates when Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar upheld his leg-before appeal against Rafique. He took 91 Tests to surpass legendary all-rounder Kapil, who played 131 matches. The spinner is now the fifth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket behind Australian Shane Warne (552), Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan (532), retired West Indies paceman Courtney Walsh (519) and Australian Glenn McGrath (463). Pathan, 20, was rewarded for his disciplined bowling with two hat trick chances but both were thwarted by Mohammad Ashraful, who top-scored with a gutsy 60 not out.
His first chance of taking three wickets off successive balls came in his fifth over when he trapped opener Nafis Iqbal (20) and Rajin Saleh leg-before. Ashraful denied the fast bowler with a defensive shot and then went on to compile his sixth half-century in 22 Tests.
Pathan’s second opportunity came immediately after the tea-break as he had left-handed Manjural Rana (24) caught behind and then removed Mushiqur Rahman with the last two balls of his 11th over. Ashraful again survived the hat trick ball in the bowler’s next over, this time firmly driving the Indian for three runs. He hit six fours in his responsible 135-ball knock.
He was involved in two useful stands to rally Bangladesh, who were tottering at 50-5 in the 16th over. He put on 56 for the sixth wicket with Rana and 65 for the eighth with tail-ender Rafique (47).
Ashraful’s brilliant effort saw Bangladesh add 134 runs for the last five wickets after Pathan and Zaheer had wrecked the top order.
Pathan was well-supported by Zaheer, who took two early wickets on a pitch which initially favoured seam bowling. Irfan and Zaheer ran through the top order, sharing five wickets to send the hosts reeling at 50-5.
Batting on the slow track became easier as the match wore on and Ashraful applied himself well to steady the innings with two partnerships. Rafique also made merry, chancing his arms against both pacemen and spinners to hit eight fours in his 60-run knock.
