Day three of the Chittagong Test belonged to two 20 year olds who are expected to be the future superstars of their country. Irfan Pathan and Mhd.Ashraful shone brightly on a day when Bangladesh for the first time stood up to the Indian bowlers. However, India would certainly be the one smiling at the end of the day's play as the hosts were precariously placed at 118-9 in their second innings.

Beginning the day at 54-3, Bangladesh took away most of the honours in the first session. The Indian left-armers Pathan and Zaheer tried to bounce out the overnight Bangladeshi batsmen. And they had every reason to do so as both Habibul Bashar and Mhd.Ashraful struggled against the rising ball at Dhaka. This time, though, the two were better prepared to face the challenge. After playing a couple of iffy shots, the batsmen settled in nicely. Ashraful, in particular, was severe on the left-armers hooking and pulling them with effortless ease. Soon Bashar too began to find his feat. The Indians were now beginning to get frustrated a not only were the wickets being denied to them by the defiant pair but the run rate was also moving along at a steady pace. It finally took the shrewdness of Kumble to get the breakthrough for India. The highest wicket -taker this year inTest cricket, Kumble deceived Bashar as the Bangladeshi skipper stepped down the wicket and was stumped for 22.

Ashraful was then joined by Aftab Ahmed playing only in his second Test. It wasn't going to be easy for Ahmed facing the likes of Kumble and Harbhajan on a third day pitch. Ahmed had a close call when a plumb lbw of Kumble went his way. After that, he hung on gamely and strung a crucial partnership with Ashraful. He was finally dismissed for a fighting 43 falling lbw to Kumble.

Meanwhile, Ashraful continued on his merry ways cutting, pulling and driving all the Indian bowlers. With decent support from the lower order, he went on to complete his second Test century- his first being on debut three years ago making him the youngest centurion in Test cricket at 17. But despite all his heroics, Bangladesh fell short of the follow-on mark. The team was all out for an impressive 333 with Ashraful left stranded on 158.

After being enforced to follow-on, things took a dramatic turn in the second innings. Irfan Pathan regained his Dhaka touch and like in the second innings of the first Test snared the top five Bangladeshis. His impeccable line and length was rewarded with lbws and caught behinds. None of the Bangladeshis had any answer to Pathan's deadly deliveries. At the end of the day, they were left on the verge of defeat with nine wickets down and two full days to go.

Earlier in the day, another Indian achieved yet another milestone. Zaheer Khan reached 100 wickets in Test cricket playing in his 37 Test to join an elite band of Test cricketers.

Only the formalities are now left to be completed on the fourth day and India should romp home easily. But Bangladesh can take heart from their first innings performance. Ashraful's knock, the highest ever by a Bangladeshi surpassing Aminul Islam's 145, was one of the great exhibition of exhilarating strokeplay. Aftab Ahmed and Habibul Bashar too made useful contributions. It is important now that Bnagladesh build on these positives and improve in the future games.