Rohit, Jadeja star as India thrash B’desh

Dubai : India made little work of Bangladesh’s meagre total of 173, as strong performances from skipper Rohit Sharma and the returning Ravindra Jadeja helped India beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets in their Super Four match of the Asia Cup in Dubai yesterday. Shikhar Dhawan gave India the perfect start as he raced away to a 47-ball 40, before his opening partner anchored the chase with his 36 ODI fifty at the Dubai International Stadium. Attacking from the start, Dhawan proved too hot to handle for the Bangladeshi pacers, but was trapped by the wily Shakib Al Hasan in front of the stumps.

Rohit though continued the good work, first partnering with Ambati Rayudu (13) and then MS Dhoni. Dhoni was promoted up the batting order to much applause and even though the former World Cup-winning captain started timidly, he grew in confidence as the innings progressed. But the star of the Indian chase was undoubtedly the India skipper, as he blasted the Bangladeshi bowlers all around the park. He finished his innings on an unbeaten 83, including 5 fours and 3 sixes. But India’s win was set up by Ravindra Jadeja’s four-wicket haul, which helped India dismiss Bangladesh for 173.

The all-rounder, playing his first ODI since July 2017, broke the backbone of Bangladesh batting with his accurate left-arm spin and ended with impressive figures of four for 29 in 10 overs. Bangladesh batsmen faltered again, having come a cropper in the run chase against Afghanistan on Thursday night. The seasoned pace duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/32) and Jasprit Bumrah (3/37) too made life tough for the opposition. The saving grace for Bangladesh was the 66-run stand for the eighth wicket between Mehidy Hasan Miraz (42 off 50) and captain Mashrafe Mortaza (26 off 32) before the team was all out in 49.1 overs.

Bangladesh, who lost to Afghanistan less than 24 hours ago and had to take the 90-minute journey from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, paid the price for reckless batting. They lost their openers Liton Das (7) and Nazmul Hossain Shanto (7) by the sixth over. From 15 for two, the experienced pairing of Shakib Al Hasan (21) and Mushfuqir Rahim had a task of rebuilding the innings but the former fell to a loose shot off Jadeja. The star Bangladesh all-rounder, having hit Jadeja for two boundaries in the 10th over, went for another one but his sweep went straight into the hands of Shikhar Dhawan at square leg.