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| April 17, 2003 | Thursday | Safar 14, 1424 |
Gambhir leads India into triangular final
DHAKA, April 16: Gautam Gambhir hit a superb 71 to lead India to a four-wicket win over Bangladesh and a place in the triangular one-day series final on Wednesday.
India stormed into the final of the series also involving South Africa with the victory and consigned Bangladesh to their 35th successive One-day International without a win.
The left-hander, who won the Man-of-the-Match award, faced 89 balls and hit nine fours as India cruised to their target of 208 with more than seven overs to spare.
Gambhir, playing just his third ODI, completed his half century in 58 balls and shared a 69-run partnership with stand-in captain Virender Sehwag, who scored 43 in 44 balls before he was caught in the deep by Tareq Aziz Khan.
Gambhjir and wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel, who was promoted to No 3, then combined for a 48-run partnership before Patel was trapped lbw by Alok Kapali leaving India comfortably placed at 117 for two after 25 overs.
The Indians then suffered some jitters and slipped to 178 for five in the 38th over after Mohammad Kaif was tragically run out for 20, Sanjay Bangar was lbw to Mohammad Rafique and Gambhir was caught behind by wicket-keeper Khaled Mashud off Kapali.
Debutant Abhijit Kale (10) and Dinesh Mongia (16 not out) then saw India to within sight of their target before Kale was caught by Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud in the covers off Mohammad Ashraful with the score on 204.
Ajit Agarkar then ended the match with a four through cover.
Rafique and Kapali finished with two wickets each.
Earlier, Habibul Bashar scored his seventh One-day International half century to help Bangladesh reach 207 all out in 49.4 overs.
Bashar was ably supported by former Bangladesh skipper Akram Khan, who added 35.
Despite India not fielding two of their regular bowlers, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, Bangladesh struggled to get any partnerships going.
Agarkar was the pick of the Indian bowlers with three for 36, while Sarandeep Singh grabbed two for 34.
Bangladesh were aided by some sloppy fielding from the Indians. Mongia dropped opener Mehrab Hossain twice, but Hossain failed to make the most of the let-offs and he was caught by Bangar for 30.
Habibul, who faced another 24 balls after reaching his 50 but failed to add another run, was caught by Kaif at extra cover off Agarkar.
BANGLADESH:
Mohammad Ashraful b Agarkar 7
Mehrab Hossain c Agarkar b Bangar 30
Habibul Bashar c Kaif b Agarkar 50
Javed Omar c and b Sarandeep 1
Alok Kapali c Mongia b Sarandeep 9
Akram Khan lbw b Sehwag 35
Khaled Mashud c Patel b Mishra 12
Khaled Mahmud c Sehwag b Agarkar 23
Mohammad Rafique b Salvi 4
Tapash Baisya run out 15
Tareq Aziz Khan not out 3
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-2, W-4, NB-8) 18
TOTAL (all out, 49.4 overs) 207
FALL OF WKTS: 1-15, 2-49, 3-53, 4-78, 5-124, 6-139, 7-163, 8-182, 9-182.
BOWLING: Salvi 10-1-51-1 (2nb, 1w); Agarkar 10-2-36-3 (1nb, 2w); Bangar 8.4-0-31-1 (1nb, 1w); Sarandeep Singh 10-0-34-2 (2nb); Mishra 9-1-38-1 (2nb); Sehwag 2-0-11-1.
INDIA:
V. Sehwag c Tareq b Rafique 43
G. Gambhir c K. Mashud b Kapali 71
P.A. Patel lbw b Kapali 27
Mohammad Kaif run out 20
S.B. Bangar lbw b Rafique 7
A.V. Kale c K. Mahmud b Ashraful 10
D. Mongia not out 16
A.B. Agarkar not out 4
EXTRAS (LB-1, W-7, NB-2) 10
TOTAL (for six wkts, 42.5 overs) 208
FALL OF WKTS: 1-69, 2-117, 3-164, 4-176, 5-178, 6-204.
DID NOT BAT: Sarandeep Singh, A.M. Salvi, A. Mishra.
BOWLING: Tapash Baisya 8-0-42-0 (1w); Tareq Aziz Khan 4-0-31-0 (1w); Mohammad Rafique 10-0-42-2; Khaled Mahmud 7-0-22-0 (2nb); Alok Kapali 8-1-41-2 (1w); Mohammad Ashraful 3.5-0-19-1 (1w); Mehrab Hussain 2-0-10-0 (2w).
RESULT: India won by four wickets.
UMPIRES: Mahbubur Rahman (Bangladesh) and B.F. Bowden (New Zealand).
TV UMPIRE: A.F.M. Akhtaruddin (Bangladesh).
MATCH REFEREE: C.H. Lloyd (West Indies).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Gautam Gambhir.
THURSDAY’S FIXTURE: Bangladesh v South Africa.—Reuters
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