Bowling at death remained India’s problem as they allowed Bangladesh to overcome a top-order collapse and post a modest 247 for six in the ongoing tri-series here on Monday.
Put in to bat, Bangladesh batsmen struggled against a disciplined Indian bowling attack but the hosts rode on a late flourish top inch close to the 250-mark.
Captain Shakib Al Hasan top-scored with a 96-ball 85, which he made with the help of eight fours and a six while in-form Mohammad Mahmadullah chipped in with an unbeaten 80-ball 64, which was studded with five fours and a six.
The duo’s 106-run stand from 128 balls for the sixth wicket was the cornerstone of the Bangladesh innings which was tottering at 95 for five in the 24th over.
Shakib, who came in the 14th over when his side was three down for 60, kept one end together till the 46th over when he was out while trying to play a scoop shot off Ashish Nehra only to mistime it as the ball landed into the gloves of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Nehra was the most successful Indian bowler with two wickets though he was a tad expensive, conceding 58 runs from his 10 overs. Yuvraj Singh was the most impressive bowler with one wicket for 33 while pacers Sudeep Tyagi (1/24) and S Sreesanth (1/53) chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Young Tyagi had an impressive five-over first spell giving away just 12 runs with one wicket but he ended conceding 24 from his six overs as Shakib pasted him for three fours in the 45th over. India bled 95 runs in the last 10 overs.
Already out of contention, Bangladesh began their innings with clear intention that they would go for shots. Opener Imrul Kayes smashed Sreesanth for two fours in the second over itself but fell next over while trying to play a shot too many. Imrul slashed an angled delivery from Tyagi onto the hands of point fielder Virat Kohli for nine.
Ten balls later, Mohammad Ashraful dragged a Sreesanth delivery onto his stumps to continue his poor form after the half-century in their first match as Bangladesh were reduced to 15 for two in the fourth over.
Tamim Iqbal and Raqibul Hasan looked like for a while they would repair the Bangladesh innings with a brief 57-ball 45 run partnership for the third wicket before the former was out for 17.
The pressure by the tight Indian bowling stifled the Bangladesh batsmen and Iqbal found a fielder in Tyagi at mid-off while trying to drive on the front foot off Nehra.
At that stage, Bangladesh were 60 for three in the 14th over and they could add just 18 runs from the second batting power play from the 11th to 15th over and losing one wicket in the process.
Bangladesh were unlucky to lose a solid looking Raqibul through a run out. Raqibul had backed out of his crease far too ahead and Yuvraj could lay his hands on the ball, which hit the stumps after Shaqib had punched it down the track.
Bangladesh’s now familiar patchy batting was once again evident as wicketkeeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim failed to keep down a flighted delivery from Yuvraj to get his man Suresh Raina at the cover as Bangladesh were reduced to 95 for five in the 24th over.
Runs were hard to come by for Shaqib and Mahmadulla as the Indian slow bowlers Yuvraj and Ravindra Jadeja bowled a tight line and varied the pace of their deliveries.
Shakib and Mahmadullah then enthralled the sparse crowd with some delightful shots before the former met with a soft dismissal. Mahmadullah completed his half-century carried hit bat through the innings.
