Ajinkya Rahane and Robin Uthappa’s patient fifties guided India to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the rain interrupted first ODI of the three-match series yesterday.
The hosts put up a challenging 272 batting first and India were equally up to the mark in their reply as they were cruising along having reached 100 for 1 in 16.2 overs before thunderstorm and heavy rainfall threatened to wash away the game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
India resumed their chase after a break of 2 hors 44 minutes with the revised target set at 150 needed from 26 overs, which meant the visitors required another fifty runs from 56 balls.
Shakib trapped Cheteshwar Pujara LBW for a duck just after resumtion but that hardly put any pressure on the visitors as Rahane continued keep the scorecard ticking. The right-handed struck five fours and two sixes in his 64 before being brilliantly caught by Ziaur Rahman off Mashrafe bin Mortaza, but by then the game was almost in the bag as India needed fifteen more from four overs.
The new captain Suresh Raina safely carried them home as India cashed in mainly from the opening stand of 99 between Rahane and Uthappa. Returning to the side after six years, Uthappa landed his 50 in just 43 balls.
Earlier, opting to bat on a flat track the Tigers lost two quick wickets, Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque, before Mushfiqur Rahim and Anamul Haque repaired the damage with a 52-run partnership.
As often seen, Anamul got settled in and stroked well for 44 runs before throwing away his wicket tring to force off-spinner Parvez Rasool out of the park. The same mistake was committed by the skipper Mushfiq (59) but not before he added 47 runs with Shakib.
Shakib continued from where he left in the IPL and played sensibly to gather his 25th half century. He was caught and bowled off Raina after making 52 off 58 balls with the help of four boundaries and a six.
Mahmudullah, promoted up the batting order, made 41 while Nasir Hossain (22), Mashrafe (18) and Abdur Razzak (16*) added 43 runs in the last five overs to take the home side to 272 for 9 in 50 overs.
Fast bowler Umesh Yadav bagged three wickets while leg-spinner Amit Mishra and debutant Parvez Rasool grabbed two each for the visitors.