4. 75 runs by Zaheer Khan for India in December 2004
The first Test match (of the two-Test series) between India and Bangladesh was played between 10th December, 2004, and 13th December, 2004, at National Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Team India, led by Saurav Ganguly, won the toss and elected to field. Except for Mohd Ashraful (60* runs, 135 deliveries, 6*4) and Mohd Rafique (14 runs, 69 deliveries, 8*4), no other Bangladeshi batsmen could stand the onslaught of the Indian bowling and their first innings came to an end with 184 runs on the board.
Irfan Pathan tore into the opposition batting line up and returned with an impressive figure of 16-5-45-5. He was ably supported by Zaheer Khan (15-2-51-2) and Anil Kumble (13.5-2-45-2).
Losing the first three wickets (Gambhir,Sehwag and Dravid) with just 68 runs on the board, a 164-run fourth wicket partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Gangly enabled Team India to overcome the Bangladesh total and also take a lead. Saurav Ganguly scored 71 runs off 123 deliveries with 13 fours.
With contributions from VVS Laxman (32 runs, 39 deliveries, 6*4), and Dinesh Karthik (25 runs, 43 deliveries, 6*4) helped India reach 393 runs for the loss of 9 wickets.
At the fall of the 9th wicket in the form of Harbhajan Singh (8 runs, 14 deliveries, 2*4) with the team score at 393 runs, in walked the last batsman, Zaheer Khan to give company to Sachin Tendulkar, who was very well set by that time.
Ably assisted by Zaheer, Sachin went on the rampage taking on the Bangladeshi bowlers. The duo put up a 133-run partnership, the overall seventh best, for the 10th wicket.
Sachin remained unbeaten on a well made 248* runs, playing for 552 minutes, off 379 deliveries with the help of 35 fours.
Zaheer Khan, batting for 123 minutes, facing 115 deliveries scored 75 runs with 10 fours and 2 sixes. This is his personal best in Tests, thus far. India took a lead of 342 runs over the opposition.
This was the best 10th wicket partnership for India against any opponent.It would be interesting to note that the 95th over of the Indian innings, had a 7-ball over. India won the match by an innings and 140 runs and went up 1-0 in the series
