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India beat Bangladesh by 25 runs

Pragyan Ojha spins a group around the Bangladeshi batsmen



Nottingham: Pragyan Ojha continued to grow in stature as India completed a clinical 25-run win over Bangladesh in a Group ‘A’ match of the ICC World Twenty20 here on Saturday.

Chasing 181, Bangladesh finished at 155 for eight at a packed Trent link. India now leads the group with two points.

Left-arm spinner Ojha was the cynosure after Bangladesh threatened briefly with opener Junaid Siddique, in particular, blasting away.

Ojha bowled with composure and craft. He is essentially an above-the-eye-level bowler who gets the ball to dip in the air. This suggests to he imparts revolution on the ball.

Understated variations

While much of Ojha’s bowling is about flight, deception and turn, he does change his length and pace cleverly. He can send the quicker delivery that skids through straight, one that comes in with the arm, or the one that just breaks from middle to off.

Four wickets for 21 runs in four overs of control was an outstanding piece of bowling from Man-of-the-Match Ojha.

Shakib Al Hasan top-edged one that skidded through from Ojha to ’keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. In the same over — the ninth — a rampant Junaid — 41 off 22 balls — stepped down the track to Ojha, found the bowler shortening his length, and holed out to Harbhajan Singh at deep mid-wicket.

The left-arm spinner kept picking wickets. Mahmudullah, attempting to turn a delivery from off-and-middle, could not make proper connection and Yuvraj Singh flung himself forward at short-fine leg to emerge with the ball.

Ojha then prised away the big-hitting Mashrafe Mortaza with one that that spun from middle to off even as the clueless batsman attempted a leg-side slog. The fact that Ojha releases the ball late enables him to pick the batsman’s initial movement.

Misses a sitter

Senior off-spinner Harbhajan, steady from one end, was desperately unlucky when Yuvraj fumbled with a dolly offering at short fine leg.

By picking two specialist spinners, the Indian team-management sent out a clear message — much of the bowling would be handled by the specialists. Only, in case of an emergency would the non-regulars be brought into play.

India would, however, have to sort out its new ball combination.

Irfan Pathan was expensive early on and it was Yusuf Pathan, with his off-spin, who lured and consumed the dangerous Tamim Iqbal.

Zaheer Khan, surprisingly fielded in the first game, showed signs of slipping into rhythm.

Ishant, the pick of the Indian pack, removed key batsman Mohammad Ashraful when the batsman’s uppish cover-drive was snaffled by Gautam Gambhir.

There was one more scalp for Ishant when Yuvraj Singh dived forward at long-off to dismiss a free-scoring Naeem Islam late in the innings. The Indians celebrated.

The defending champion had begun the campaign on a winning note.

A beaming Ojha said his stint in the IPL during the South African winter had enabled him to cope better with chilly conditions at Trent Bridge.

It was not easy for a spinner to grip the ball with icy winds sweeping the ground.

Yuvraj complimented

Ms.Dhoni admitted that he and Gambhir had got into a bit of a rut in the middle overs but complimented Yuvraj for his blistering innings. He acknowledged the performance of the spinners and added, “We knew the spinners would bowl well on this surface.”

Bangladesh captain Ashraful lamented the lack of partnerships.

Coach Jamie Siddons said the Indian team had batsmen who could hit sixes at any stage of an innings.

“They keep coming at you,” he added. The holder sounded a warning at Trent Bridge.

SCOREBOARD


India:
  G. Gambhir c Shakib Al Hasan b Naeem 50 (46b, 4x4), R. Sharma b Shakib 36 (23b, 3x4, 2x6), M.S. Dhoni b Naeem 26 (21b, 1x6), Yuvraj c Tamim b Shahadat 41 (18b, 3x4, 4x6), S. Raina b Rubel 10 (8b, 1x4), Y. Pathan (not out) 1 (1b), I. Pathan (not out) 11 (3b, 1x4, 1x6).

Extras: (w-5) 5. Total (for five wkts. in 20 overs) 180.

Fall of wickets:
1-59, 2-112, 3-140, 4-157, 5-169.

Bangladesh bowling: Mashrafe 4-0-29-0, Rubel 4-0-49-1, Shahadat 3-0-31-1, Mahmudullah 2-0-15-0, Shakib 4-0-24-1, Naeem 3-0-32-2.

Bangladesh: Tamim st. Dhoni b Y. Pathan 15 (10b, 3x4), Junaid c Harbhajan b Ojha 41 (22b, 2x4, 3x6), Ashraful c Gambhir b I. Sharma 11 (9b, 1x4), Shakib c Dhoni b Ojha 8 (10b), Mahmudullah c Yuvraj b Ojha 8 (13b), Raqibul c Ojha b Khan 16 (20b, 1x4), Mortaza b Ojha 11 (8b, 1x6), Mushfiqur (not out) 11 (11b, 1x4), Naeem c Yuvraj b I. Sharma 28 (17b, 3x6), Shahadat (not out) 0 (0b). Extras: (lb-3, w-3) 6. Total: (for eight wkts. in 20 overs) 155.

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-55, 3-74, 4-77, 5-95, 6-111, 7-121, 8-154.

India bowling: Zaheer 3-0-26-1, I. Pathan 2-0-20-0, Y. Pathan 3-0-26-1, I. Sharma 4-0-34-2, Harbhajan 4-0-25-0, Ojha 4-0-21-4.

Next India Match

India v Ireland at Nottingham

Jun 10 (17:30 local, 16:30 GMT)

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