Related Links: Arise Asia Cup 2014 – Schedule and Scorecards | Bangladesh Vs India, Match 2 at Fatullah on Feb 26, 2014 – Scorecard Details
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli led from the front to steer India to a comfortable 6-wicket win over hosts Bangladesh in Match 2 of the Arise Asia Cup 2014.
At the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, India won the toss and elected to field first. Bangladesh after being on the backfoot at 49 for 2 in the 13th over recovered superbly to put up 279 for 7 on the board. Opener Anamul Haque played a good knock scoring 77 from 106 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes. Bangladesh Captain Mushfiqur Rahim exploded to score his 2nd ODI century, while ending up with 117 from 113 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes.
Both Anmaul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim despite their small built, easily belted the ball out of the park. India’s fastest bowler Varun Aaron took a severe beating in their hands to come up with lousy bowling figures of 7.5-0-74-1. Varun Aaron was taken off the bowling by the Umpires for dishing out two beamers. The second of his beamers was easily around 145 kmph and had gone onto hit Mushfiqur Rahim right on his chest!
Fortunately, Mushfiqur Rahim got up from the blow and carried on his innings. The Indian bowling was led by Mohammed Shami who came up with an impressive show of 4 for 50 in 10 overs. Ravindra Jadeja bowled out his 10 overs giving away only 37 runs. The notable part of the Indian bowling was R Ashwin copying Sunil Narine’s action and doing reasonably well. Ashwin took 1 for 50 with his new bowling action that produced fair amount of turn.
India’s run chase started on a decent note before Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma were dismissed in succession. Shikhar Dhawan was first to go for a 44-ball 28, lbw to Abdur Razzak in a forcing sweep shot. Rohit Sharma (21 from 29 balls) was clean bowled by medium pacer Ziaur Rahman with a ball that had nipped back.
The pressure was back on India at 54 for 2 in the 13th over when Ajinkya Rahane joined Virat Kohli. The two batsmen took their time and made merry once the dew came in and made life miserable for the Bangladeshi spinners. Kohli and Rahane ran away with the game with their massive partnership of 213 runs in nearly 33 overs.
Virat Kohli scored his 19th ODI century which came in just 95 balls. The Indian Captain got out for 136 (from 122 balls with 16 fours and 2 sixes) after a tired attempt to ease a yorker from Rubel Hossain. Ajinkya Rahane too failed to remain not out and got out on a well piled up 73 which came in 83 balls with 7 fours and a six.
India chased the target with an over to spare losing four wickets. The Man of the Match award as expected went to Virat Kohli. Bangladesh Captain Mushfiqur Rahim might have scored a brilliant hundred but was unfortunately injured on two occasions. While the first injury was courtesy of the Varun Aaron beamer, the second was when he landed heavily on his elbow and shoulder while trying to prevent a boundary. Ironically, the Varun Aaron beamer had forced Mushfiqur Rahim to give away his wicket keeping duties to Anamul Haque.
Match Video: Ajinkya Rahane Post match conference
