2008-06-12 20:18:13 -
India defeated Bangladesh by seven-wickets in the last league match of the cricket tri-series and india will clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dhaka on Saturday.
Sehwag 58 runs in 29 balls enabled Indian team to put up 85 runs in just 10 overs for the first wicket along with seasoned campaigner Gambhir, setting a firm foundation for the convincing victory.
India 223 to win, reached the target with 14.5 overs to spare as the demolishing Indian opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir scorched the Sher-e-Bangla stadium with thundering shots all around the park.
Banglesh team quick wickets at regular intervals put them in pressur ,Raqibul Hasan scored a brilliant 89-run innings to give Bangladesh moderate total 222 in 49.5 overs, electing to bat after winning the toss on a good bating pitch.
India on papers superiors side in the tournament, finishing the league match engagements with
two victories in as many matches and qualified for the final in style.Pakistan with their win against Bangladesh entered the final clash, to be played Saturday 2PM.IST
After hurricane knock of Virender, Gambhir's second successive hundred against Bangladesh and fifth overall, was studded with 13 boundaries and one shot over the fence helped India to crave easy win on Team Bangladesh .
Indian openers shots all around on bowling of Ferhad Reza and Mashrafe Mortaza merciless Delhi duo, skipper Mohammed Ashraful introduce young Dolar Mahmud into the attack in the 10th over.However, Ashraful had no idea what was in store for Mahmud Nawab of Najafgarh creamed him for 22 runs, hitting him for two extra-cover sixes and two leg-side boundaries. Sehwag completed his 27th one-day half century consuming just 27 balls, though he succumbed on the last ball of the over while trying to hook Mahmud for another big shot.Gambhir, who did not get much strike earlier, had reeled off three boundaries in a Reza over, before Sehweag unleashed a flurry of strokes.
Mumbai batsman Rohit Sharma joined Gambhir as skipper Dhoni opted to continue with the left-right combination.The run-rate did suffer in absence of Sehwag as Bangladesh slow bowlers Mahmudullah and Abdur Razzak put the breaks on the free flowing runs for some time.
Secdond spell , overs between 10 to 20 fetched India just 48 runs and to break the shackles Sharma (26) went for an extravagant shot of Razzak, mistimed that, and ended up in the hands of Mortaza.
Third wicket partnership Gambhir paced his innings well and along with Yuvraj Singh (26) took India closer to the target.Realising that Gambhir was nearing his hundred, Yuvraj rationally offering more strike to his partner and soon after Gambhir got his ton, Yuvraj got out going for the kill on his score of 26 runs.
Mortaza clean bowled him after the Punjab left-hander had gathered 26 runs from 33 balls, helping himself with one four and a six.
At the start, Raqibul Hasan played a brilliant innings and shared two crucial partnerships to help Bangladesh set India a modest target of 223.
India, RP Singh, who came in for Ishant Sharma was pick of the bowlers with impressive figures of 3 for 46.
Hasan rescued Bangladesh with a gritty knock when the hosts were staring at yet another disappointing show after their openers were knocked out by furious Indian pacers inside first six overs.
