Buried under an avalanche of runs on the first day, where India scored 334-2, the Bangladesh bowlers led by young paceman Mashrafee-Bin-Mortaza and experienced left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique fought back gamely in front of a capacity crowd.

India might have finished their first innings at 540, but Bangladesh could be well satisfied for taking eight wickets for 206 runs on a placid pitch.

But despite a promising start the batting-ache resurfaced for the hosts when they collapsed to 50-3 at stumps after at one stage being 48 for no loss.

Javed Omar (10) and local boy Nafees Iqbal (33) saw off the initial threat from first Test destroyer Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan. But just as things were looking promising leg-spinner Anil Kumble made the breakthrough having Javed caught at slip by Dravid in the slips and then trapped nightwatchman Mashrafee leg before with the last ball of the day.

Harbhajan Singh removed the other opener Nafees, who was caught at short leg.

Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar was not out without facing a ball and much will rest on his shoulders when play resumes today on a wicket that is starting to take turn.

But it could have been easily a great day for Bangladesh had they not lost three quick wickets under fading lights.

It was a sensational Saturday morning for Mashrafee when the Narail quick put to rest any talk of Sachin Tendulkar, overnight 36, scoring a 35th Test century. The 19-year-old fast bowler had the champion right-hander trapped in front of the wicket with the day's first ball.

Mashrafee also claimed the wicket of Rahul Dravid, who was caught behind after making a superb 160.

Mohammed Rafique then got in on the act to wrap up the Indian lower half. He finished with 4-156

Bangladesh's most successful bowler Rafique removed VVS Laxman (9), wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik (11) and Irfan Pathan (4) before launch.

But Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly launched a counterattack in the second session to take the total past the 500-run-mark.

The 'Prince of Calcutta' smashed 88 from 153 deliveries that included nine boundaries before becoming Rafique's fourth victim.

Mashrafee however was the most impressive in his second comeback match, conceding 60 runs in 26 overs for his three wickets.

Debutant Nazmul bagged two wickets for 114 runs in 25.5 overs.