DHAKA (Reuters):

OPENER WASIM Jaffer hit 138 before retiring hurt to help India accumulate 326 without loss at the close of play after being asked to bat on the opening day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh yesterday.

Resuming on 175-0 after the tea break, opener Dinesh Karthik retired hurt on 82. Captain Rahul Dravid was unbeaten on 88.

Jaffer's fourth Test century followed a pair in the first Test in Chittagong.

He hit 17 boundaries from 229 balls while Dravid faced 131 balls, striking a six and 11 fours.

"Getting a pair in a Test match is not a good feeling," Jaffer told reporters. "I motivated myself to get a hundred in this match and my team helped me."

Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore added: "We regret the decision (to field). We misread the pitch."

After Karthik had survived a dropped catch in the first session, Jaffer also escaped when Mohammad Rafique almost completed a caught-and-bowled shortly after the lunch break.

Karthik, who hit 12 boundaries, was dropped by Saqibul Hasan on 10 at slip off a delivery from Syed Rasel in the eighth over.

The rain-interrupted first Test ended in a draw in Chittagong on Tuesday.