Sport

Gambhir powers to an unbeaten century

— Photo: AP

SIMPLY SUPERB: Gautam Gambhir came up with a brilliant century to fashion India’s win.

Dhaka: Gautam Gambhir is light on his feet and heavy with his contributions. The left-hander is making all the right moves these days.

His compelling footwork, timing and balance were the highlights of an unbeaten hundred in the last league match of the Kitply tri-series cricket tournament at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur on Thursday.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men made light of a chase of 223, romping home by seven wickets in the 36th over. They will now meet Pakistan in the final here on Saturday.

Gambhir’s unbeaten 107 (101b, 13x4, 1x6) indicated his growing maturity. He played second fiddle to Virender Sehwag without being negative and launched into strokes after his senior partner’s departure.

It was crucial for the host to be consistent with the shiny, hard ball and force mistakes. Apart from Mashrafe Mortaza, the rest disappointed.

Sehwag began with a flowing cover-drive off Mortaza and then cut loose. He was provided width by Farhad Reza and promptly responded with cuts and pulls. There were also occasions when Sehwag converted the length. A yorker-length ball was eased past the bowler and the ropes.

He was, however, fortunate to be adjudged not out when a Mortaza delivery nipped back to catch him in front. The height might have been a factor in the umpire’s decision.

When Dolar Mahmud was introduced, Sehwag greeted him with a flurry of shots. The two sixes off full length balls outside off-stump over extra cover were audacious blows.

Gambhir whipped and drove the ball with power and precision. Sehwag’s effort of 59 (32b, 7x4, 2x6) ended when he was picked up in the deep after pulling Mahmud.

The opening stand had whipped up 85 off 60 balls. Rohit waltzed during his breezy 26 which included a flat pulled six off Mahmud before top-edging a sweep off left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak.

Yuvraj Singh pulled Mahudullah for a six and Gambhir essayed a few delightful inside-out cover-drives when leg-spinner Alok Kapali operated.

Earlier, Bangladesh managed a recovery of sorts. Considering Bangladesh had scored just 68 in the 20 Power Play overs taken straightaway by M.S. Dhoni, the final total indicated a fight back of sorts. Raqibul Hasan (89), walking in at No. 4, was at the heart of a revival by the host.

For India, paceman Praveen Kumar bowled with exemplary control. The craftsman swung the ball away from the left-handed Tamim Iqbal — the batsman lunged into a drive — for Dhoni to pouch the nick.

His new ball partner, left-armer Rudra Pratap Singh, appeared a touch rusty but struck with the new ball. The comeback man brought one into the left-handed Shahriar Nafees from over-the-wicket to hit the stumps.

Bangladesh, rightly opting to bat, found itself in early trouble at 17 for two. Skipper Mohamad Ashraful (36 off 67 balls) applied himself once again.

Along with a determined Raqibul, he took the score to 93 for two before Dhoni’s bowling change worked for India. Raqibul, however, held firm.

This was an innings when his cover and square-driving off Irfan Pathan were immaculate. Yet Raqibul’s effort (89, 117b, 5x4) was a lot about placements and hard running as well. He was undone by cramps in the later stages of the innings and succumbed to R.P. Singh.

Bangladesh: T. Iqbal c Dhoni b Praveen 0, S. Nafees b R.P. Singh 9, M. Ashraful c & b Yusuf 36, Raqibul c Praveen b R.P. Singh 89, M. Rahim c Raina b Chawla 6, A. Kapali b Irfan 20, Mahmudullah c Sehwag b R.P. Singh 24, F. Reza (run out) 5, M. Mortaza (run out) 13, A. Razzak (not out) 8, D. Mahmud c Praveen b Irfan 0; Extras (lb-2, w-10): 12; Total (in 49.5 overs): 222.

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Iqbal), 2-17 (Nafees), 3-93 (Ashraful), 4-106 (Rahim), 5-152 (Kapali), 6-187 (Raqibul), 7-196 (Mahmudullah), 8-209 (Reza), 9-222 (Mortaza).

India bowling: Praveen 10-2-32-1, R.P. Singh 10-1-46-3, Irfan 8.5-0-48-2, Chawla 10-0-42-1, Yuvraj 2-0-10-0, Yusuf 2-0-9-1, Sehwag 7-0-33-0.

India: G. Gambhir (not out) 107, V.Sehwag c Tamim b Mahmud 59, Rohit c Mortaza b Razzak 26, Yuvraj b Reza 26, S. Raina (not out) 0; Extras (w-5) 5; Total (for three wkts in 35.1 overs) 223.

Fall of wickets: 1-85 (Sehwag), 2-141 (Sharma), 3-216 (Yuvraj). Bangladesh bowling: Mortaza 8-0-33-0, Reza 5.1-0-45-1, Mahmud 4-0-42-1, Razzak 10-0-48-1, Mahm

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