Bangladesh players congratulate teammate Mustafizur Rahman (second left) after he dismissed India’s Rohit Sharma during the first ODI) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka yesterday. (AFP)
IANS/Mirpur
Bangladesh produced a clinical all-round performance to claim a memorable 79-run victory against India in their first One-Day International (ODI) of a three-match series yesterday. Chasing a stiff target of 308, India folded for 228 in 46 overs. Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman (5/50) made a dream debut to fashion the victory for the home team.
It was Bangladesh’s only fourth win in 30 ODI matches against their mighty neighbours, which also avenged their World Cup quarter-final loss The Indian run chase began healthily with openers Rohit Sharma (63) and Shikhar Dhawan (30) putting together a 95-run stand.
Rohit scored his fifty off 52 balls with three boundaries and a six. Dhawan was dropped twice, on 13 and 15, by Rahim in consecutive overs off Rubel Hossain and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. But Dhawan’s 16th over dismissal, edging an attempted uppercut off Taksin Ahmed, started an downward spiral for India.
Virat Kohli (1) hung his bat loosely at a wide delivery that took an edge. Rohit followed him soon after, managing only a leading edge off a Mustafiz Rahman cutter. Ajinkya Rahane (9) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (5) also departed soon as India slumped from a position of strength at 95/1 to 128/5 in 28.3 overs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Suresh Raina (40) and Ravindra Jadeja tried to put up a resistance but that was swiftly nipped in the bud for Bangladesh’s ninth consecutive home win.
Earlier, Bangladesh put up a gritty batting display to post a strong 307 runs. Openers Taim Iqbal (60) and Soumya Sarkar (54) and middle-order batters Shakib Al Hasan (52) and Sabbir Rahman (41) contributed richly for the hosts.
India’s spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was the most successful bowler with 3/51 in his stipulated 10 overs. Pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/37) and Umesh Yadav (2/58) were also among the wickets as India bowled out the hosts in 49.4 overs.
The home team got a rollicking start to their innings and reached 119/1 in 15.4 overs after Bangladesh opted to bat.Openers Tamim Iqbal (60) and Soumya Sarkar (54) put together a 100-run partnership in only 79 balls.
But just when they threatened to take the match away from India, their momentum was broken when Das was run out after getting involved in a mix-up with his partner. Ashwin struck for India with three quick wickets and reduced Bangladesh to 147 for four in 24 overs before rain held up the game for an hour.
Bangladesh recovered to reach 200 in 34.1 overs riding on a timely 83-run fifth-wicket partnership from Shakib Al Hasan (52) and Sabbir Rahman (41). Left arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (1/48) finally broke that partnership in the 38th over but the Indian bowlers were unable to contain the lower-order.
