| |
Untitled Document
 Raina, Gambhir star in Indian victory over Bangladesh
29th Jun 2008 08:00 IST
Agencies
In-form Suresh Raina smashed his second century of the competition with a classy unbeaten 116 to lead India to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a super four match of the Asia Cup at the National Stadium in Karachi Saturday night.
Opener Gautam Gambhir pitched in with a strokeful 90 off 84 balls in the top order to set up the stage for Raina who hit 11 sixes and three fours in his 107-ball innings.
The superb batting by the two Indian left-handers overshadowed a spectacular 115 from Alok Kapali who hit his maiden century to steer Bangladesh to their highest total of 283/6.
India finished on a convincing 284/3 in 43.2 overs with Raina hitting the winning run, a single off Abdur Razzak, despite resting Virender Sehwag, Praveen Kumar and Piyush Chawla.
It was India's fourth straight win in the six-nation competition and it brought them closer to a place in the final as they now have four points in the super league stage having carried over two from the qualifying round.
Raina, who has been in excellent form in the competition, followed up his scores of 101 (against Hong Kong) and 84 (against Pakistan) with an unbeaten 116 from 107 balls reaching his second career hundred by glancing spinner Razzak for a boundary in the 40th over.
Raina and Gambhir put on a spectacular 139 from 133 balls for the third wicket while the centurion teamed up for an unbeaten stand of 89 from 70 balls with Yuvraj Singh (36) to finish off the match.
Raina's 100 from 93 balls included 10 fours and two sixes while Gambhir stroked 10 fours and one six in his 84-ball innings.
Gambhir missed out on a chance to score his third successive hundred against Bangladesh when he fell in the 32nd over caught at mid-wicket by Mashrafe Mortaza off Farhad Reza.
Pacer Mortaza was left cursing his luck when Gambhir and then Raina got reprieves off on his bowling in successive overs due to some inept fielding efforts.
Farhad first floored a sitter at point when Gambhir on 56 charged the bowler and miscued a high shot while Mahmadullah floored a difficult chance at deep fine leg when Raina couldn't control his shot.
The catches were dropped at India's total of 97 and 104 and Bangladesh were to blame themselves for squandering the opportunities to make it harder for India to overhaul the target.
Gambhir, who blazed his way to his tenth fifty from only 36 balls with a flat six off Mahmadullah to long on, carried on his aggression even after India lost Robin Uthappa (2) early on at the team total of 14 bowled by Shahadat Hossain while Rohit Sharma fell to a catch at mid-wicket off Hossain after making 22 runs to leave India at a spot of bother at 56/2.
continued.. |
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
| News |
|
|
| Face To Face |
|
|
| Columns |
|
|
| Off The Field |
|
|
| Players |
|
|
| |
|
|
