Mushfiqur’s century in vain
Fatullah: Skipper Virat Kohli smashed a magnificent 136 and shared a 213-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane (73) to lead India to a comfortable six-wicket win over hosts Bangladesh in the Asia Cup, here on Wednesday.
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim had also hit a sparkling ton to help the hosts post a challenging 279 for seven after being asked to take first strike.
While Rahim’s excellent knock went in vain, Kohli’s effort resulted in victory for his team, which has copped a lot of criticism of late for their pathetic performances overseas.
Courtesy Kohli’s 19th one-day hundred, India recovered well after cheap dismissals of openers Shikhar Dhawan (28) and Rohit Sharma (21) and overhauled the target with six balls to spare. It was India’s first win in 2014.
Rahane played a key role in India’s win as he and Kohli batted together for 33 overs before being separated. India were just 13 runs away from victory when Kohli was castled by pacer Rubel Hossain in the 46th over.
His 136-run knock came off 122 balls with 18 boundaries, including two sixes, while Rahane took 83 balls for his innings that had seven fours and a six.
The only blot in Kohli’s effort was when he flicked uppishly on 35 in the direction of at square leg, but fielder Rubel could not reach the ball.
Rahim had led from the front with a gritty 113-ball 117 and that century came after he took a nasty hit on his ribs by a Varun Aaron beamer.
It was the first century for Bangladesh against India since Alok Kapali’s hundred in the Asia Cup in June 2008.
Young opener Anamul Haque (77) also impressed with a half-century in a 133-run third wicket partnership with his skipper.
The clinical win should also give India a big relief after their embarrassing defeats against New Zealand recently. They also avenged their last defeat to Bangladesh that cost them a final place in 2012 Asia Cup, also held here.
India did not get off to a good start to the chase with both openers struggling. They survived some anxious moments as Bangladesh attacked with close-in fielders.
There were some loud appeals before they fell in successive overs. Dhawan was trapped by Abdur Razzak while Sharma was bowled by Ziaur Rehman.
With the scorecard reading 54/2 in the 13th over there was not much difference between the two teams, but it was Kohli and Rahane’s partnership that made the difference.
Stand-in skipper Kohli had the usual air of calmness in his innings, something that imbibed confidence in a struggling but talented Rahane, whose last five one-day innings read a sorry 2, 3, 3, 36, 7 in New Zealand.
Rahane broke the shackles with a six over third man in a well-executed shot to pacer Rubel Hossain.
With Kohli dissecting the Bangladesh field with ease en route to his 47-ball half-century, Rahane was not in a hurry as he paced his innings beautifully.
Kohli completed his century in 95 balls with a single to third man.
Earlier, Mushfiqur started his innings patiently with Animul going freely at the other end, but after the opener’s dismissal, the skipper came into his own, hitting two sixes and seven fours.
The duo was involved in a 133-run third wicket stand that came after they were reduced to 49/2 in the 13th over. The lower order, however, failed to fire. (PTI)
SCORECARD
Bangladesh:
A Haque b Aaron 77
S Rahman c & b Shami 7
M Haque st Karthik b Ashwin 23
M Rahim c Sharma b Shami 117
N Islam c Ashwin b Shami 14
N Hossain c Karthik b Shami 1
Z Rahman c Aaron b Kumar 18
S Gazi not out 3
M Mortaza not out 1
Extras: (b-1, lb-3, w-12, nb-2) 18
Total: (7 wkts; 50 overs) 279
FOW: 1-16, 2-49, 3-182, 4-231, 5-241, 6-270, 7-276
Bowling: Kumar 8-1-41-1, Shami 10-1-50-4, Aaron 7.5-0-74-1, Ashwin 10-1-50-1, Jadeja 10-0-37-0, Rayudu 3-0-17-0, Kohli 1.1-0-6-0
India:
R Sharma b Z Rahman 21
S Dhawan lbw b Razzak 28
V Kohli b R Hossain 136
A Rahane c sub b Gazi 73
A Rayudu not out 9
D Karthik not out 2
Extras: (lb-1, w-9, nb-1) 11
Total: (4 wkts; 49 overs) 280
FOW: 1-50, 2-54, 3-267, 4-272
Bowling: Mortaza 9-1-44-0, R Hossain 10-1-63-1, Razzak 10-0-55-1, Z Rahman 5-0-20-1, Gazi 8-0-49-1, M Haque 2-0-13-0, Islam 1-0-15-0, N Hossain 4-0-20-0