India restore some pride

India avoided the embarrassment of 'Banglawash' when they recorded a face-saving 77-run win against Bangladesh in the third and final one-day international in Mirpur yesterday.

Having conceded the first two games in embarrassing fashion against a rampant Tigers, the visitors finally achieved something to show for after their first-ever series defeat against Bangladesh. The hosts, despite the defeat in the final ODI, can look at the bright side of a memorable series against the two-time world champions.

It's a series where Bangladesh presented a young left-arm pacer in Mustafizur Rahman for the world to enjoy and the vaunted Indian batting line-up to remember as a nightmare. The 19-year-old took 13 wickets in the series including two five-fors in the first two games to fashion Bangladesh's historic series success against their heavyweight neighbours in the backdrop of the World Cup quarterfinal defeat. It was also a series where the Tigers played an attractive brand of cricket and also showed the world that they had got a pace attack that was as attractive as the best in business.

The final match was a test for them to try and offset what Indian batting could do. They might have failed but showed plenty of signs that it won't take them that long to match that. And they have done it in the first match.

Yesterday the Tigers more than matched the pace but what they missed was a change of gear or two in the run chase.

Bangladesh came up with an attacking mindset to chase down a commanding Indian total of 317-6. But the ploy did not work against a disciplined bowling. They suffered the first big blow when opener Tamim Iqbal, a suspect against incoming deliveries early in his innings, was adjudged leg-before off Dhawal Kulkarni for five.

Soumya Sarkar, the other opener, gave the home side hope with a graceful 40 off 34 balls that included some eye-pleasing shots all over the park, much to the delight of the chock-a-block crowd at the home of Bangladesh's cricket. But his innings was cut short by a well-disguised slower delivery from Kulkarni.

Mushfiqur Rahim looked good with 24 and Shakib Al Hasan scored an aggressive 20. But neither of the two key Bangladesh batsmen was focused on playing a big innings. Litton Das occupied the crease for quite some time but suffered a soft dismissal after scoring 34 off 40 balls.

When the Tigers were reduced to 148-5, the game as a contest was all but over. Sabbir Rahman, another exciting find in Bangladesh cricket, tried his best along with a feisty Nasir Hossain. But the ideal situation could have been for them had Mushfiqur and Shakib carried till the 40th over. Sabbir struck a fluent 43 off 38 balls that included six fours and Nasir struck three boundaries in his 30-ball 32. The Tigers, in the end, managed 240 when they were bowled out in the final delivery of the 47th over.

Earlier, sent into bat, a decision by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza that not many were convinced as a wise call, India cautiously stroked their way to the big total. It was a kind of score the Indian batting juggernaut has often been associated with against any opposition in the world.

However, playing against three pacers after Taskin Ahmed was forced to pull out due to a late injury, India mixed caution with aggression. They were very respectful to Mustafizur, but treated an out-of- sorts Rubel Hossain and left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny with disdain. Mashrafe might have gotten three wickets but also went for 76 runs in his 10 overs.

India were off to a brisk start with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan scoring 39 runs before the pair was separated by one and only Mustafizur, who had Rohit caught behind for a run-a-ball 29.

Dhawan went on to score a 73-ball 75, which featured 10 boundaries. It was the highest individual score of the Indian innings. Coming into bat at number four after yet another no-show from Virat Kohli, who ended a forgettable series after being clean bowled by Shakib for 25, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck an equally impressive 69. A subject of ferocious attack of the Indian media after two consecutive defeats, Dhoni played superbly to guide his side past the 300-mark for the first time in the series. He struck six fours and a six in his 77-ball knock.

Ambati Rayudu gave his captain good company in an important 93-run fourth-wicket stand where his contribution was 44. He was unlucky to be adjudged caught behind as replays clearly suggested that the ball had hit his thigh pad. Suresh Raina entertained with a 21-ball 38 that featured three fours and two sixes. The left-hander became the world record equalling victim of Mustafizur. The youngster, who took 11 wickets in the first two games, finished the three-match series with 13 wickets to go level with Ryan Harris as the highest wicket-taker in an ODI series featuring at least three matches.