India rain on Bangladesh parade in first ODI

Visitors reach revised 150-run target with seven wickets in hand.

DHAKA: India defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets in the rain-curtailed first ODI in Dhaka on Sunday powered by confident fifties from openers Ajinkya Rahane and Robin Uthappa.

The visitors reached the revised target of 150 runs off 26 overs with seven balls to spare after heavy downpours stopped play for more than two hours in the day-night clash at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Bangladesh, batting first, made 272-9 off 50 overs with valuable half-centuries from skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (59) and Shakib al Hasan (52).

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim applauded the new-face Indian team but said that a few more runs could have made the difference.

“After looking at that wicket I think we were 20 runs short,” said Rahim, according to ESPN.

“But they batted really well, especially in the first 10 overs. Our bowlers also gave away loose balls. Their bowlers didn’t do that. Decision at the toss can go either way. But as I said this was a young Indian side. Had we got those 20 extra runs, we could have won.”

India started their chase with aplomb as Uthappa (50), making his one-day comeback after nearly six years, and Rahane punished the loose deliveries and scored at more than run-a-ball.

Uthappa lofted Ziaur Rahman for a massive six over mid-wicket to race to his sixth ODI half-century. He was eventually out leg before wicket although TV replays suggested a huge inside edge onto his pad.

India, who were 100-1 off 16.4 overs when the downpours started, were then asked to score 150 runs in 26 overs in accordance with the Duckworth-Lewis method.

They resumed their innings with 50 required of 56 balls and courtesy Rahane, they finished the match with seven balls to spare.

Man-of-the-match Rahane was over the moon with his performance and said that winning the opening match of the series had given his team the much needed boost.

“I am really happy,” said Rahane.

“The start is really important for any series. The partnership at the top was crucial, but the bowlers did really well in that heat. It was really challenging. We just wanted to give our 100%. We thought they were 15 to 20 runs short. The credit goes to the bowlers.”

Meanwhile, Indian captain Suresh Raina was also happy with his young team’s performance and credited his bowlers for their show in the scorching heat.

“I am very pleased with Robin and Rahane,” said Raina.

“I am also very happy with the bowlers, especially Parvez Rasool and Akshar Patel. And obviously Amit Mishra did well too.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2014.

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