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Rediff.com  » Sports » Images: India v Bangladesh, 3rd ODI, Mirpur

Images: India v Bangladesh, 3rd ODI, Mirpur

Last updated on: January 8, 2010 10:25 IST

Image: Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes
Photographs: Reuters

Bangladesh's openers were off to a rousing start. Tamim Iqbal (60) and Imrul Kayes (70) were particularly severe on India's opening bowlers Ashish Nehra and S Sreesanth.

Nehra in particular was put under tremendous pressure when Iqbal started hitting him for boundaries. Sreesanth too bowled short and leaked runs from the other end.

Zaheer Khan, who came as first change for Sreesanth, was given little respect as he gave 19 runs from his first spell.

Iqbal soon reached his half-century, when he worked Zaheer delivery to square leg for a single.

Poor Indian fielding

Image: Harbhajan Singh drops a catch

If the pacers leaking runs, India ground fielding was even worse.

Harbahjan Singh dropped a sitter off Imrul Kayes. The batsman had scored just three runs at that time.

It was a forgettable day for Harbhajan as he dropped the same batsman again in the latter part of the innings.

The bowlers were guilty of giving too many extras -- 25 to be precise.

 

Kayes makes the most of reprieve

Image: Imrul Kayes plays a late cut

Iqbal, however couldn't make the most of the start and gave his wicket away, caught at midwicket by Gautam Gambhir off Sreesanth.

Iqbal's 33-ball knock included ten boundaries and one six.

Kayes then took over from Iqbal and continued the good work. After playing second fiddle to Iqbal, he kept the momentum along with Mohammad Ashraful (29).

Kayes (70) made the most of a reprieve by smashing the second half-century of the Bangladesh innings.

Spinners peg Bangladesh back

Image: Indian players celebrate after picking a wicket

With the pacers bleeding, skipper M S Dhoni brought in spinners and they did manage to pull back things.

Yuvraj Singh and Ravindra Jadeja bowled well in tandem, restricting the batsmen to just singles.

Jadeja then dismissed the dangerous Ashraful, clean-bowled while going for a late cut.

Bangladesh skipper Sakib-al-Hasan (0) failed to open his account as he was found short of his crease.

The loss of a well-set Kayes meant that Bangladesh were reduced to 188 for four from a healthy 148-2.

Kayes was caught by Virat Kohli in the deep, going in for a pull off Ashish Nehra.

Mahmadullah uses long handle to good effect

Image: Mahmadullah runs in between the wicket

With Bangladesh taking the batting Power Play in the 45th over, Mahmadullah Riyad used his long handle to great effect.

He made a quickfire 45-ball 60 to pile 88 runs in the last 10 overs and take Bangladesh to a huge score.

Bangladesh, at the end of 50 overs, amassed 296 for the loss of six wickets.

Early wicket rocks India

Image: Virender Sehwag walks back to the pavilion

Chasing a stiff task of 296 for victory, it was imperative that India got a good start. Bangladesh bowled well in the initial couple of overs before Virender Sehwag (13) ran himself out, giving the hosts the early breakthrough.

Sehwag was brilliantly run-out by Abdur Razaq, who hit the stump after mis-fielding off his own bowling.

Gautam Gambhir (18) and Yuvraj Singh (1) soon followed Sehwag back to the pavilion, reducing India to 51-3 by the eighth over.

Dhoni-Kohli steady innings

Image: MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli

After the early jolt, Kohli (91) and Dhoni (101 not out) rebuilt the Indian innings.

It was like starting from the scratch for Dhoni and Kohli when the duo came together at the crease in the ninth over. They shunned risks by scoring mostly in singles and doubles, with ocassional boundaries, thereby not allowing the asking rate to rise.

They took 67 balls to notch their first 50 partnership and the next 50 came from 52 deliveries.

Both shared a 152-run foruth wicket stand, which put India on course for victory.

Kohli misses out on ODI ton

Image: Bangladesh players celebrate Kohli's dismissal

Just when it looked like Kohli (91) would record his second One-day century, he was snapped up by Bangladesh skipper Sakib-al-Hassan off his own bowling.

By the time Kohli was out, India needed 94 for 15 overs with six wickets in hand.

Kohli's brilliant innings included seven hits to the fence.

Dhoni sees India home

Image: MS Dhoni celebrates his ton

Playing a captain's knock, Dhoni and Suresh Raina (51 not out) sealed victory.

In the process the Indian skipper notched his seventh ODI century. His innings included nine boundaries.

Raina, who came in after Kohli's departure, kept the momentum going and crafted a well-deserved half-century.