Bangladesh pay price of dropping Sharma�s catch
India win opener
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh paid the price of dropping Rohit Sharma who made the most use of it to script Indias facile 45-run win over the hosts in the first match of Asia Cup T20 yesterday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Sharma survived on 21 after Shakib Al Hasan put down the catch when he cut straight at point off fast bowler Taskin Ahmed. He was removed in the last over after smacking 55 ball-83 which steered India to a challenging, if not intimidating 166 for six in the stipulated 20 overs.
A rejuvenated Indian bowling attack then maintained a sustained aggression to restrict Bangladesh to 121 for seven. Sabbir Rahman battled lonely for Bangladesh as he scored 44. Sharmas knock was complemented by Hardik Pandyas 31 as the duo ransacked 69 runs in the last five overs, leaving Bangladesh face a daunting task.
Sharma who was used to play big knock had he survived a jittery state, scored the rest of the 62 off just 30 balls which inflicted a mental damage to Bangladesh.
Indias batting frailties were exposed on a green track after Mashrafe Mortaza sent them batting. They failed to deal with the seam movement, produced by the Bangladeshi bowlers.
As Taskin Ahmed swung one sharply past Rohit Sharma on the first ball of the innings, it was clearly understood that the Indian batsmen would face a tough time in the crease under the overcast condition.
The four-man Bangladesh pace attack left India in a precarious 42 for three before Sharma restored the dominance with a 55-run partnership with Yuvraj. Pandya and Sharma then combined for a 27 ball-61 runs partnership, taking the Bangladeshi bowlers in utter derision.
Shikhar Dhawan was first to go for just 2, after an uncomfortable stay in the crease. Al-Amin Hossain produced a beauty to scatter his wicket, evidencing Indias vulnerability in the moving deliveries.
Virat Kohli who returned to the side after being rested against Sri Lanka, seemed to have taken his side on track with his traditional care free batting but he too couldnt help the side break the shackle under sustained pressure. He though started dominating the bowling like he did in the past two years.
It was captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza who gave the full house crowd at Mirpur Stadium a reason to erupt like a volcano when he got rid of dangerman and inform Kohli for 8.
Bangladesh however established its full control on the match with the wicket of Suresh Raina who also started finding his mojo. His aggressive batting suddenly ticked the scoreboard rapidly but before he did more carnage, off-spinner Mahmudullah dislodged his stump with one that came to Raina (13) slowly than his anticipation.
When the wickets were falling like a pack of cards, Rohit Sharma was just watching and buying time to settle in the crease. He was understandably slow initially with the balls were moving sharply.
Sharma hit seven fours and three sixes in his 55 ball-83, and was particularly harsh on Mustafizur Rahman, a bowler who scythed down Indian batting single-handedly in its last visit in Bangladesh last year.
Pandya sent the ball across the rope four times and hit one six in his 31 off 18, making the Bangladeshi bowling disarray in the last powerplay.
