Fatullah, Feb 26: Skipper Virat Kohli smashed a magnificent 136 and shared a 213-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane (73) to lead India to a comfortable six-wicket win over hosts Bangladesh in the Asia Cup, here today.
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim had also hit a sparkling ton to help the hosts post a challenging 279 for seven after being asked to take first strike.
While Rahim’s excellent knock went in vain, Kohli’s effort resulted in victory of his team, which has copped a lot of criticism of late for their pathetic performance overseas.
Courtesy Kohli’s 19th One-day hundred India recovered well after cheap dismissal of the openers Shikhar Dhawan (28) and Rohit Sharma (21) and overhauled the target with six balls to spare. It was India’s first win in the 2014 calender.
Rahane played a key role in India’s win as he and Kohli batted together for 33 overs before being separated. India were just 13 runs away from the win when Kohli was castled by pacer Rubel Hossain in the 46th over.
His 136-run knock came off 122 balls with 18 boundaries, including two sixes while Rahane took 83 balls for his innings which had seven fours and a six.
The only blot in Kohli’s innings was when on 35 he flicked uppishly at square leg but fielder Rubel could not reach out to the ball.
Rahim had led from the front with a gritty 113-ball 117 and that century came after he took a nasty hit on his ribs by a Varun Aaron beamer.
It was first century for Bangladesh against India since Alok Kapali’s hundred in an Asia Cup in June 2008. Young opener Anamul Haque (77) too impressed with a half-century in a 133-run third wicket partnership with his skipper.
The clinical win should also give India a big relief after their embarrassing defeats against New Zealand. They also avenged their last defeat to Bangladesh that cost them a final place in 2012 Asia Cup, also held here. (PTI)
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