Zaheer Khan produced a destructive spell of swing bowling to ruin Bangladesh with a career-best 7 for 87 as India crushed the hosts by 10 wickets in the second Test and clinch the two-match series 2-0 here today.
After putting up stiff resistance yesterday, Bangladesh succumbed to a spectacular batting collapse today with Zaheer wreaking havoc, especially with his grasp of reverse swing.
Resuming on 228 for three, there was no hint of the hosts’ impending doom as they saw through the first 19 overs without any hiccup.
Harbhajan Singh earned the breakthrough for India by removing overnight batsman Shahadat Hossain but it was Zaheer, who broke the back of the home side claiming three wickets in fours balls in the penultimate over before lunch as the home side collapsed for 312.
It was a dramatic collapse by the home side which lost their final seven wickets for just 22 runs. Needing just two runs to complete the formality for a facile win, neither Virender Sehwag not Gautam Gambhir could open their account as Bangladesh conceded two bye runs to lose the Test with more than four sessions to spare.
Zaheer, who was adjudged both Man of the Match and Man of the Series, on Wednesday became only the fourth Indian fast bowler to take 10 wickets in an away Test.
With three wickets in Bangladesh first innings, Zaheer ended the match with career-best figures of 10 for 149, eclipsing his nine for 134 that came against England at Nottingham in 2007.
