Mirpur: Riding on sparkling centuries from Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli, India registered a morale boosting 87-runs revenge victory over Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National stadium.
Though Bangladesh got off to a sparkling start, they were unable to maintain their momentum. It crashed the hopes of a whole nation that expected their team to record yet another stunning victory over India like in the 2007 World Cup.
It was indeed a sweet revenge for the Indians against Bangladesh, known as 'Tigers' in their own den. Half centuries from Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal and skipper Shakib Al Hasan were just not enough to overcome the mammoth Indian total of 370 for 4.
With a four off the very first ball of the tournament, Sehwag provided an electrifying start to the 2011 World Cup with a knock that can be showcased among the finest knocks in the history of this tournament. His shot off Shafiul Islam, off his back foot, to a short of a length delivery was immaculately timed. He settled down quickly to play shots with minimum of effort but for maximum benefit.
The over 25,000 crowd, although had turned up to cheer their home team, was forced to applaud some of his shots. Most of the shots from his bat raced like bullets fired from a gun. With Sachin Tendulkar at the other end picking the gaps beautifully, the pair put on 69 runs in 10.5 over before the partnership ended in a run-out following a terrible mix up.
Bangladesh's bowling lacked the bite to restrict any of the Indian batsmen. Gautam Gambhir hit a run-a-ball 39. Kohli, who joined Sehwag, also hit the Bangladesh attack with ease. Sehwag and Kohli put on 203 runs for the third wicket in just 145 balls.
When all eyes were focused on whether Sehwag would shatter the record for the highest individual score of an unbeaten 188 from South Africa's Gary Kirsten against UAE in 1996, he yielded his wicket.
Sehwag had just equalled Kapil Dev's knock of an unbeaten 175 against Zimbabwe in 1983, when he played Shakib Al Hasan on to his wicket. His dream of playing the full 50 overs in a One-day cricket too fell along with it.
Though Kohli raced to his 100 in just 83 balls, his ton was overshadowed by Sehwag's 140 ball epic knock studded with 14 boundaries and five sixes.
Sourav Ganguly's knock of 183 against Sri Lanka at Taunton in the 1999 World Cup for the highest total by an Indian too remained unbroken.
Unfazed by the daunting Indian total, Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes provided a positive start. The pair literally exposed the India's opening attack hitting 51 runs in the first five overs. Shantakumaran Sreesanth, playing in his first World Cup match, gave away 24 runs in his third over.
Twenty-four-year-old left-handed Kayes played some spectacular shots against Sreesanth, forcing Dhoni to take him off the attack. Sreesanth gave away 36 runs from his first three overs.
Munaf Patel, who replaced Sreesanth, provided the vital breakthrough forcing Kayes on 34, to play on to this wicket.
Bangladesh scored 93 for 1 in the first 15 overs, needing another strong partnership. Hard-hitter Tamim Iqbal played an uncharacteristic knock, picking only the loose balls to hit. With Junaid Siddiqui they countered the Indian spin attack led by Harbhajan Singh and Yusuf Pathan which checked the run flow.
Singh ended the 73-run partnership having Siddiqui brilliantly stumped by Dhoni for 37.
Bangladesh still needed 234 runs from the next 25 overs with eight wickets in hand. When Bangladesh needed another 183 more runs from the last 18 overs, Patel struck again to dismiss a well settled Iqbal of a fine catch by Yuvraj Singh at mid wicket for 70 runs. This dismissal pulled the curtains down on Bangladesh’s spirited run chase. Patel returned with figures of four wickets for 48 runs.
Scoreboard
India
V. Sehwag b Shakib Al Hassan 175
S. Tendulkar run out (Al Hassan) 28
G. Gambhir b Mahmudullah 39
V. Kohli not out 100
Y. Pathan c Rahim b Shafiul Islam 8
Extras: (b-1 lb-2 w-16 nb-1) 20
Total: (for four wickets, 50 overs) 370
Bowling: Shafiul Islam 7-0-69-1 (1nb, 2w), Rubel Hussain 10-0-60-0 (5w), Abdur Razzak 9-0-74-0 (1w), Shakib Al Hassan 10-0-61-1 (3w), Naeem Islam 7-0-54-0, Mahmudullah 7-0-49-1 (3w).
Bangladesh
T. Iqbal c Yuvraj b Patel 70
I. Kayes b Patel 34
J. Siddique st Dhoni b Harbhajan 37
S. Al Hasan c Harbhajan b Pathan 55
M. Rahim c sub b Zaheer 25
R. Hasan not out 29
M. Mahmudullah b Patel 6
N. Islam lbw b Patel 2
A. Razzak lbw b Zaheer 1
S. Islam run out 0
R. Hussain not out 1
Extras: (lb9, w13, nb1) 23
Total (for nine wickets, 50 overs) 283
Bowling: Sreesanth 5-0-53-0 (nb1, w5), Zaheer 10-0-41-2 (w4), Patel 10-0-48-4, Harbhajan 10-0-41-1 (w1), Pathan 8-0-49-1 (w2), Yuvraj 7-0-42-0
India won by 87 runs
