Rohit Sharma and Ashish Nehra have propelled India’s Asia Cup campaign with a 45-run win against Bangladesh in their first encounter at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
India had 166 on the board, it was always going to be tough for the hosts. Eventually, they crumbled under pressure.
Rohit Sharma’s innings proved to be the difference between the two sides as Bangladesh failed to find a sheet anchor. Sabbir Rahman tried to hold one end but never looked threatening enough to overhaul the target.
Sabbir Rahman scored 44 runs of 32 balls hitting two boundaries and two whirlwind maximums before sent back to the pavilion in a Pandya delivery.
Indian pacers, led by Ashish Nehra, were brilliant. There was some dew around but that did not deter the spinners from executing their job to perfection.
Tigers lost their openers after posting only 19 runs in 3.2 overs.
Bumrah’s short of length delivery bounced a bit more than Soumya Sarkar anticipated. Sarkar was hanging back to defend, does not account for the bounce; the ball brushes the glove and settles neatly in Dhoni’s mitts.
Soumya Sarkar scored 11runs off 14 balls.
Nehra picked Mithun when the opener went for a swipe across the line missed it completely and the off-stump takes a beating.
Mithun could add 1 run before walking to the pavilion.
Imrul Kayes was sent back in an Ashwin delivery. Imrul’s top-edge is found and the ball carries to deep backward square, Yuvraj picked a well judged catch.
Rohit Sharma was seen trying to hammer each balls to set a fighting total with his fellow Hardik Pandya in the match.
Rohit Sharma scored 83 runs off 49 balls hitting seven boundaries and three whirlwind maximums and Hardik Pandya added 31 off 18 balls.
A sensible bowling display by Tigers side made India off to a stuttering start as they lost three important wickets within 7 overs in the first encounter of in the game.
Al-Amin roars in delight with all the support from the capacity crowd. A good length delivery pitching around middle and off from over the wicket and then nipping back in, Dhawan went for the drive with a big gap between bat pad and Al-Amin Hossain knocks back the Indian opener’s off-stump.
The skipper Mashrafee bagged the Kohli, nothing but a length delivery from Mortaza, the frustration probably got to Kohli, who was beaten twice in the previous over. He tried to go over the top this time around and totally mistimed it. Mahmudullah grab the catch easily.
Kohli scored 8 off 12 balls.
Mahmudullah for shortening the length on seeing Raina advance, the left-hander was not to the pitch of the ball, yet wanted to drive without covering the line and the ball easily sneaked through to hit the top of middle stump.
Raina scored 13 off 13 balls hitting two boundaries.
Bangladesh have won the toss and have opted to bowl first against India in the first encounter of the Asia Cup.
Despite heavy hailstorm earlier in the day the opening match of the Asia Cup between Bangladesh and India is on its way to begin on schedule.
Bangladesh Squad
Mashrafe Mortaza*, Abu Hider, Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed
India Squad
MS Dhoni*†, R Ashwin, JJ Bumrah, S Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, RA Jadeja, V Kohli, B Kumar, P Negi, A Nehra, HH Pandya, PA Patel†, AM Rahane, SK Raina, RG Sharma, Yuvraj Singh
Source: Dhaka Tribune
