Dambulla, June 16 (IANS) Virender Sehwag starred with the ball on his international return, claiming four wickets, while Gautam Gambhir smashed 82 as India crushed Bangladesh by six wickets in the Asia Cup cricket tournament here Wednesday.
Bangladesh, electing to bat, were bowled out for 167 in just 34.5 overs and India raced to the target in 30.4 overs.
Gambhir stroked 82 off 101 balls, hitting six fours, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni contributed an unbeaten 38 off 45 balls with the help of three fours and one six. The duo added 78 runs for the fourth wicket to guide India home.
Sehwag, who missed the World Twenty20 because of a shoulder injury, bowled a mesmerising spell (2.5-0-6-4). Three of his wickets came in one over that brought the end of Bangladesh.
It was Sehwag’s best spell in ODIs, eclipsing his earlier three for 25 against South Africa at Colombo in 2002.
Bangladesh were out of sorts and apart from their openers Tamim Iqbal (22) and Imrul Kayes (37) playing some attacking shots, they could never challenge the Indian domination.
The two left-handers played freely and took on pacers Praveen Kumar (1-38) Ashish Nehra (2-28) as they offered width to the batsmen.
Tamim, with two recent Test hundreds against England to his name, struck Praveen for a six while Kayes got the better of Zaheer with three fours in the left-arm pacers’ first over.
The good show was, however, shortlived as Tamin was dismissed by Kumar, caught by Suresh Raina at cover.
Kayes and Ashraful (20) added 46 runs before the latter fell to Nehra. Wickets then tumbled one after another as none of the Bangladesh batsmen showed any determination to occupy the crease.
Nehra also got the wicket of Kayes, who was in good touch but failed to control a pull shot and gave an easy catch to Sehwag.
Mushfiqur Rahim, who made 30 off 55 balls with one four, became Sehwag’s first victim after adding 55 runs with Mahmudullah (23) for the fifth wicket.
Bangladesh lost their last six wickets for only 12 runs as Sehwag polished off the tail in no time.
Sehwag struck with his first, fourth and fifth deliveries of his third over, dismissing Suhrawadi Shuvo, Shafiul Islam and last man Syed Rasel.
Sehwag (11) did not dazzle with the bat as Mashrafe Mortaza got him caught behind in the seventh over
Gambhir and Virat Kohli (11) shared 43 runs with the left hander doing the bulk of the scoring.
India lost two quick wickets, Kohli and Rohit Sharma (0), bothing falling to captain Shakib Al Hasan’s left arm spin.
Dhoni then gave company to Gambhir as they overhauled the paltry Bangladesh total with ease.
