In a shocker, Bangladesh beat India by 79 runs in the first one-day international to take a 1-0 lead in the three match series. From the beginning of the match, Bangladesh looked in command setting India a target of 308 runs and then getting the visitors all out for 228 in 46 overs.
Initially, the Indian team started well with a 95-runfirst-wicket partnership in 15.5 overs. Rohit Sharma top scored with 63 and Shikhar Dhawan made 30. Suresh Raina tried to make a fight of it with a 40 in 40 deliveries but to no vain.
Top stars captain MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli made five and one respectively. For the hosts Mustafizur Rahman took 5 for 50 to do the damage.
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 to put up a challenging target for their more fancied opponents at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
India’s premier 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 home team in 49.4 overs. The home team got a rollicking start to their innings and reached 119/1 in 15.4 overs afterBangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss and decided to bat before rain could halt the proceedings. Openers Taim Iqbal (60) and Soumya Sarkar (54) punished the Indian bowlers from the very beginning and put the home team in a strong position. They 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.
Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin struck for India with three quick wickets and reduced Bangladesh to 147 for four in 24 overs after rain held up the game for about an hour. Tamim suffered a lapse in concentration following the break and lofted Ashwin straight down to Rohit Sharma at long-off. His 62-ball innings contained seven fours and a six. Ashwin trapped debutant Litton Das (8) in front before Mushfiqur Rahim (14) holed out to Sharma at long-on. But Bangladesh recovered from that mini collapse 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 restrict the smooth run flow with Shakib scoring his 29th ODI fifty. Shakib ultimately perished in the 44th over but not before setting up his team for a strong total.
(Agencies)
