Bangladesh set India a stiff 297-run target
By IANSThursday, January 7, 2010
DHAKA - Bangladesh put up a challenging total of 296 for six in 50 overs against India in the third ODI of the tri-nation series tournament here Thursday.
Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan decided to bat and the batsmen stood up to the task, raising their highest total against any Test playing nation at the Shere Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur.
Openers Tamim Iqbal (60) and Imrul Kayes (70) gave Bangladesh a good platform, scoring 80 runs in 11 overs. Indian bowlers fought back in the middle overs not allowing a big partnership to flourish. Mahmudullah, however, finished off with a flurry of fours, scoring an unbeaten 60 off just 45 balls.
Tamim played with confidence in his 42-ball 60 that came with 10 fours and a six. He got good support from the other end as Kayes stroked five fours and a six for his 100-ball 70. The two openers exploited batting-friendly conditions and made the Indian pace attack look ordinary.
Sreesnath broke the partnership as Tamim mistimed a pull to Gambhir. Mohammad Ashraful (29) and Kayes consolidated the innings with a 68-run stand.
Bangladesh then lost two wickets in a space of eight runs. Ashraful, who hit three fours, was bowled by left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja. Shakib was run out and Kayes was the next to go after addding 32 runs with Raqibul Hasan (32).
Harbhajan Singh got Raqib’s wicket before Mahamudullah and Naeem Islam (15) scored some quick runs in the slog overs.
Mahamudullah stroked eight fours, three came in the last over of Sreesanth.
