It was a real exciting day for Bangladeshi cricket lovers when the 20-year old Ashraful batted on his way to a classy 158 not out, the second hundred in his 23 Test match career, but the Indian attack led by Irfan Pathan buried the home side's chances of saving the second and final Test on the third day.

Despite the youngest Test centurion's great knock, the home team stared at another innings defeat when they lost their second-innings wickets like nine-pins to crash to 118-9 at stumps after being forced to follow-on. Bangladesh, chasing India's 540, were all out for 333 in the first innings, the seventh time the Tigers have crossed the 300-run mark.

After two nerve-tingling sessions, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was relieved when Pathan exposed the brittle Bangladesh batting by taking 5-32 after removing Nafees Iqbal with the very first delivery of the second innings.

Sourav was looking forward to finish the match by the third day but Nazmul Hossain (8) and Talha Jubair (25) delayed the inevitable although the umpires extended play by twenty five minutes under fading light.

Bangladesh still need 89 runs to avoid their 20th innings defeat in 34 Tests.

But the story could have been a different one if umpires Aleem Dar and Mark Benson had not given two poor decisions.

Khaled Mashud (22) was supporting Ashraful well during a 60-run sixth wicket stand but Pakistani umpire Dar adjudged the Bangladesh wicketkeeper caught behind although TV replays showed that Zaheer Khan's delivery completely missed the bat.

Four overs later, Englishman Benson sent back Mohammad Rafique (4), also adjudged caught behind, after Pathan's bouncer kissed the shoulder of the left-handed batsman.

In the second innings, it was Ashraful's (3) turn who was given lbw even after Anil Kumble's ball hit his bat before the pad.

Bangladesh might be on the brink of another defeat but the Test will be remembered by the cricket fans for Ashraful's scintillating knock. The little prodigy became first Bangladeshi batsman to cross the 150-run landmark and emerged larger than life to assault the star-studded Indian bowling.

Bangladesh resumed the day on 54-3 and everybody was expecting another meek surrender. But Ashraful had other ideas after captain Habibul Bashar (22) was dismissed following a 70-run partnership.

He launched a counterattack from the first ball and demoralised the Indian left-arm seam duo Pathan and Zaheer with exquisite stroke play. The right-hander whacked a huge six over fine-leg in the initial stage and never looked behind, punishing the high-profile Indian attack.

He displayed all the shots in the book apart from a magnificent reverse sweep against Harbhajan Singh and the next ball, he came down the track to on-drive the off-spinner to the mid-wicket fence to complete his second hundred after his acclaimed century against Sri Lanka in 2001 on debut.

Ashraful's hundred came off 124 balls and studded with 15 fours and two sixes and before that, he steered Anil Kumble for two to complete his fifty from 70 balls. He also became the third Bangladeshi to go past 1000-run mark in Test cricket after captain Habibul Bashar and Javed Omar. He was later joined by Khaled Mashud.

He was also involved in a brilliant 115-run fifth wicket partnership with local lad Aftab Ahmed, who made 43 off 72 balls that produced fours and a six.

The only regret of Ashraful, who remained unconquered in 194 balls (24x4, 3x6), was that he failed to save the follow-on for just seven runs.