Sport

India piles up the runs

Nottingham: Yuvraj Singh’s late blitzkrieg propelled India to a healthy 180 for five against Bangladesh in Group ‘A’ match of the ICC World Twenty20 at Trent Bridge on Saturday.

The left-hander created scoring opportunities with dare and flair during his 18-ball 41 (3x4, 4x6) that sent the run-rate soaring after a period of lull.

A rampant Yuvraj, profiting from a fumbled stumping, took off-spinner Naeem Islam to the cleaners in the 17th overs with three sixes in four deliveries.

In the next over, he struck paceman Rubel Hossain on the full and when Rubel responded with short-pitched stuff,Yuvraj swung him for boundaries.

Irfan Pathan launched into a couple of booming blows in the final over as India reached the 180-mark after electing to take first strike.

Before being held in the deep off Naeem, Gautam Gambhir (50, 46b, 4x4), ran hard and placed his shots well; he kept one end firm.

Gambhir square-cut the second delivery of the opening over, from Mashrafe Mortaza, to the fence after being beaten by one that curled away.

Later in the over, the gifted Rohit Sharma creamed a length delivery through the covers. India was up and running in front of an enthusiastic crowd as the left-right combination forced the pacemen to shift their line.

And when Mohammad Ashraful replaced Rubel with lanky paceman Shahadat Hossain, Gambhir was put down by Raqibul Hossain at backward point.

Bangladesh bled runs in the same over when Rohit flicked Shahadat over the leaping fielder at the square-leg fence and then smashed a short one to the point ropes.

Rohit was cutting loose even as Gambhir rotated the strike. India’s 50 arrived in only 32 deliveries.

Rohit also walks the rope. He survived when ’keeper Mushfiqur Rahim missed a stumping chance — Shakib suffered — but was dismissed attemting a pull off the next delivery; the delivery fizzed through to rattle timber. Rohit’s 23-ball 36 (3x4, 2x6) provided India early momentum.

Shakib, rated high in the shorter formats, bowled wicket-to-wicket and varied his length. The Indian run-rate was pegged back; India’s second 50 came off 44 deliveries with one four and a six.

There were a couple of bright moments though. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, walking in at one drop, jumped down the track to off-spinner Mahmudullah and cleared long-off.

Dhoni (26, 21b, 1x6) was eventually done in by a delivery of flight and dip from off-spinner Naeem Islam.

Although indications were that Zaheer Khan would be fielded from the Ireland game, the team-management found the left-arm paceman fit enough for the India’s opening duel.

Fall of wickets: 1-59, 2-112, 3- 140, 4-157, 5-169.

Bangladesh bowling: Mashrafe 4- 0-29-0, Rubel 4-0-49-1, Shahadat 3-0- 31-1, Mahmudullah 2-0-15-0, Shakib 4-0-24-1, Naeem 3-0-32-2.

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