India set 251 runs to chase after Bangladesh's late resurgence

Dhaka, May 10 (UNI) India's pacers bowled with little imagination as Bangladesh posted a challenging 250 for seven in the allotted quota of 47 overs in the first of the three ODIs at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium here today.

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat under clouded conditions and the openers gave the team a rolicking start reaching 78 runs for the opening stand.

The innings got a late boost from vice-captain Mohammed Ashrafful, whose cameo of 29 of 22 balls meant Bangladesh would reach the magical 250 mark in the rain truncated tie.

At 200 in the 41st over, 230 plus looked a decent score, but Ashrafful had other ideas. He and Aftab Ahmed rode their luck to take Bangladesh to 236 before Ashrafful was bowled by Dinesh Mongia for 29, studded with three boundaries.

Aftab was the next to go caught leg before to a low full toss from Sehwag for a well made run-a-ball 16. By then 250 was was very much on the cards and Mohammed Rafique did not disappoint as they reached there with a quick 11. He was out to Powar on the last delivery of the innings.

Earlier, the two openers approached the task in contrasting manner. While Javed Omar was his stodgy self, defending with soft hands, Tamim got off to a flier. The only time Javed looked to force the pace was when he was given width outside the off stump. There was no such restraint from Tamim Iqbal. Despite the claims by the Indian skipper that Tamim was well studied, Zaheer failed to get things right, bowling to the opener's strength.

Iqbal began with a beautiful punched off drive past mid-on and never looked back thereafter. Predictably Zaheer's figures after the match read none for 54 off seven overs. His poor show from the World Cup continues.

The 50-partnership came up in an uncomplicated manner. There was no debilitating heat to complain. A fair wind blew and Bagladesh innings took sail. Rahul Dravid was forced to bring effect a double change replacing Zaheer and Sreeshanth, who looked none to impressive either. However, Munaf Patel pressed into service didn't oblige too.

It was the beefy Powar who sowed the first seeds of doubt tossing the ball up nicely and getting a nice loop. Even the usually reticent Omar was forced out of his comfort zone, down the pitch to lift one over long-on. The intention was more to distract than to score.

The breakthrough came when Dinesh Mongia, who has now spent the major part of his international career in wilderness for one reason or the other, was brought into attack from the Bank Alfalah end to replace Munaf Patel.

Mongia teased Iqbal into a lofted false stroke to see the ball being caught on the ropes at long-on by Virender Sehwag with the score on 78. Iqbal had made 45 from only 53 balls with six fours.

Bashar fell two deliveries later to Powar.

The Bangladesh skipper fighting self doubt more than the opposition tried to break the shackles early and in the process mistimed a drive to Gautam Gambhir at short mid-on. Suddenly Bangladesh were reduced to 78 for two. Bashar was out on naught.

It was then left to Saqibul Hasan and Javed Omar (37 not out) to take up the challenge. Bangladesh reached 100 for 2 in 24.3 overs and the bugle was sounded for the accleartion.

If Javed Omar is a grafter, Saqibul is a bigtime amasser of runs.

The duo got about their job of culling runs in a matured manner and stitched together 100 runs off 128 balls with Javed Omar on 51 and Saqibul on 45.

Omar paced his innings excellently and was only beaten to the crease by a superb direct throw from the long on boundary by Zaheer Kahn to the keeper's end.

Soon after, Saqibul departed on 50, stumped by Dhoni to give Mongia his second wicket. Mongia saw Saqibul giving a charge and bowled one flat and wide and Dhoni made no mistake. The left hander's innigs had only two fours and came of 67 deliveries.

By that time Bangladesh had reached 200 in the 41st over.

Mongia was the pick of the Indian bowling line with 3 for 49 off 10 overs and Powar got 2 for 54 off his allotted quota of 10.

Sreeshanth who walked off the field with a cramp after his first spell of five overs that yielded 14 runs, did not take any further part in India's bowling.

Incidentally Bangladesh has won two of the last three times the two teams have met with the last one being in the World Cup when they beat India by 5 wickets.

UNI