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DHAKA: Zaheer Khan sparked a sensational Bangladeshi collapse with four wickets off eight balls as India swept the series with a crushing 10-wicket win in the second and final Test on Wednesday. ( Watch Video )


The left-arm seamer bagged a career-best 7-87 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 312 in their second innings in the opening over after lunch on the penultimate day, leaving the visitors needing two runs to wrap up the series.

The hosts had conceded a 311-run lead after India scored 544-8 declared in their first innings in reply to their opponents' 233.

India, who won the opening Test by 113 runs in Chittagong last week, completed the formality when Bangladesh conceded two byes in the opening over bowled by left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan.

Zaheer finished the match with 10-149 to become only the fourth Indian paceman to take 10 or more wickets in an away Test. He was named both Man of the Match and Man of the Series.

Bangladesh were well placed at 290/3 before losing seven wickets in the space of 22 runs in a dramatic collapse, with Zaheer taking four, left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha two and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh one.

Zaheer struck in the morning session's penultimate over, dismissing Raqibul Hasan (five), Mohammad Mahmudullah and Shafiul Islam to complete his ninth haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings.

Raqibul was bowled shouldering arms, Mahmudullah was brilliantly caught by Murali Vijay in the slips and Shafiul was bowled by a delivery that cut in sharply.

Zaheer ended the innings when he bowled last-man Rubel Hossain for no score with his third delivery after the lunch interval.

There was no hint of collapse in the opening hour as Shahadat Hossain (40) and former captain Mohammad Ashraful (25) took their team's overnight total of 228/3 to 290 with their defiant knocks.

Harbhajan broke the 68-run partnership when he had nightwatchman Shahadat caught by substitute Amit Mishra at long-on. The Bangladeshi batsman hit one six and four boundaries in his 74-ball knock.

Ojha put pressure on the hosts when he had Ashraful caught behind and then had skipper Shakib Al Hasan (seven) caught by Gautam Gambhir at square-leg in successive overs.

Shakib started with an aggressive shot, hoisting Ojha for a straight six before falling in the bowler's next over.

India, the top-ranked Test side in the International Cricket Council rankings, will now clash with number two South Africa in a two-match series at home starting on February 6.