Mirpur, Mar 16: The Bangladesh batsmen put up a clinical performance to set up just their third victory against India in One-Day Internationals, upsetting calculations and throwing open the four-nation competition. After Sachin Tendulkar’s record 100th ton set India up for an impressive score of 289, three half-centuries from the Bangladesh top-order, followed by a couple of feisty innings from Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, gave the hosts a five-wicket win in the fourth match of the 2012 Asia Cup.
The Indians came into this game with Ashoke Dinda replacing R Vinay Kumar in the playing eleven. Bangladesh, meanwhile, played an unchanged squad from their opening game against Pakistan. The hosts’ captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, won the toss and opted to bat first.
Although India lost Gautam Gambhir (11) early, Tendulkar’s innings, along with a 148-run stand between the master batsman and Virat Kohli, set India up for their competitive score of 289. While Kohli (66) fell after bringing up his 21st half-century in the 36th over of the Indian innings, Tendulkar and Raina steered India past the 200-run mark in the 40th over.
The Little Master then brought up his landmark 100th ton in the 44th over, clipping a delivery from Shakib Al Hasan down to square leg for a single. With the record out of the way, Sachin upped the scoring rate and hit a couple of boundaries in the very next over. However, a double strike from paceman Mashrafe Mortaza in the 47th over kept things under control for the hosts. Mortaza removed Suresh Raina (38-ball 51) and Tendulkar off consecutive deliveries to reduce India to 259 for four in 46.5 overs. MS Dhoni’s 11-ball 21*, however, ensured that the Indian innings finished on an upbeat note.
The Bangladesh run-chase followed a similar pattern to the Indian innings. The hosts lost opener Nazimuddin (5) early, but were then put on course thanks to a 113-run stand between Tamim Iqbal and Jahurul Islam. However, Ravindra Jadeja removed Islam (53) in the 29th over. Five overs later, Praveen Kumar had his second victim of the evening when he had Iqbal (70) caught by Jadeja. Bangladesh were 156 for three in 33.5 overs at this stage.
That set the stage for a sizzling fourth-wicket stand between Nasir Hossain and Shakib Al Hasan, which saw Bangladesh plunder 68 runs in just eight overs (run-rate 8.50). Shakib (49 off 31, 5x4, 2x6) was eventually stumped by MS Dhoni off R Ashwin in the 42nd over but with Hossain (58-ball 54) playing a composed innings and Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim (25-ball 46*) hitting some big sixes at the end, Bangladesh scraped through to an impressive five-wicket win with four deliveries to spare.
Today’s result means that the competition is wide open. India now play Pakistan in the fifth match of the competition on Sunday, March 18, while Bangladesh take on Sri Lanka in the final league outing on March 20.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 293/5 in 49.2 overs (Tamim Iqbal 70, Nasir Hossain 54, Jahurul Islam 53, Praveen Kumar 3/56) by five wickets beat India 289/5 in 50.0 overs (Sachin Tendulkar 114, Virat Kohli 66, Mashrafe Mortaza 2/44)
Man-of-the-match: Shakib Al Hasan for his blazing 31-ball 49 (5x4, 2x6) that put Bangladesh on course to chase down India’s score
