DHAKA: India avoided a series whitewash by securing a 77-run victory over Bangladesh in the third One-day International here on Wednesday.

After the tourists rattled up 317-6, India put in a disciplined bowling performance to wrap up Bangladesh’s innings for 240 in 47 overs to earn a consolation victory in their 2-1 series defeat.

Shikhar Dhawan made 75, M.S. Dhoni 69, and Ambati Rayudu added 44 to India’s total.

For Bangladesh, captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was the most successful bowler with 3-76 while newcomer Mustafizur Rahman claimed 2-57.

The Bangladesh batsmen found the run chase a tough one under the floodlights, although Sabbir Rahman smashed a fluent 43 and Soumya Sarkar scored 40.

Suresh Raina inflicted the most damage, with his part time off-spin taking 3-45. Dhawal Kulkarni (2-34) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-35) also chipped in as India bowled out Bangladesh for the first time in the series.

India sensed a straightforward victory once Kulkarni trapped Tamim Iqbal (5) in-front in the second over.

Sarkar showed his talent and his 54-run stand with Litton Das kept Bangladesh in the hunt before he perished to a big shot -- caught by Ravichandran Ashwin off Kulkarni. His 40 off 34 balls included five fours and two sixes.

Another useful partnership followed between Das and Mushfiqur Rahim (24), but after they added 50 runs, Raina dismissed the latter to leave Bangladesh on 112-3.

Das (34) prompted his dismissal with a poor shot while a suicidal sweep shot by Shakib Al Hasan (20) pegged back Bangladesh’s innings at 148-5. Rahman and Nasir Hossain (32) were then only able to delay an inevitable defeat.

Earlier, half-centuries from opener Dhawan and captain Dhoni gave Indian bowlers a good total to defend.

Rohit Sharma gave the side a fluent start with a run-a-ball 29, and Virat Kohli contributed a solid 25.

Unlike the first two matches, India showed more technical aptitude and composure in dealing with left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur. His off-cutter was met much more carefully, although opener Rohit Sharma was undone by it for the third time in the series.

Dhawan and Kohli set India on their way with a 75-run partnership, until the latter was bowled going for a sweep shot by Al Hasan.

Dhoni and Dhawan then made further progress, before being stopped by Mashrafe -- thanks to Nasir Hossain’s stunning catch at short midwicket to remove Dhawan. He smashed 10 fours in his 73-ball 75, his second consecutive fifty in the series.

Dhoni’s 93-run stand with Rayudu propelled India past 300 for the first time in the series. Dhoni smacked six fours and one six in his 69 off 77 balls, before being dismissed by a Msharafe leg-cutter.

Raina kept the rhythm going by reaching 38 off 21 balls, including three fours and two sixes.

Scoreboard

INDIA:

R. Sharma c Das b Mustafizur29S. Dhawan c Nasir b Mortaza75V. Kohli b Shakib25M. Dhoni c Mustafizur b Mortaza69A. Rayudu c Das b Mortaza44S. Raina b Mustafizur38S. Binny not out17A. Patel not out10

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-3, W-3)10

TOTAL (for six wkts, 50 overs)317

DID NOT BAT: R. Ashwin, D. Kulkarni, U. Yadav

FALL OF WKTS: 1-39, 2-114, 3-158, 4-251, 5-268, 6-301.

BOWLING: Mustafizur 10-0-57-2; Mortaza 10-0-76-3 (2w); Sunny 6-0-42-0; Rubel 9-0-75-0 (1w); Nasir 6-0-27-0; Shakib 9-1-33-1.

BANGLADESH:

Tamim Iqbal lbw b Kulkarni5Soumya Sarkar c Ashwin b Kulkarni40Litton Das b Patel34Mushfiqur Rahim c Dhoni b Raina24Shakib Al Hasan c Kulkarni b Raina20Sabbir Rahman b Binny43Nasir Hossain c Rayudu b Ashwin32Mashrafe Mortaza b Ashwin0Arafat Sunny not out14Rubel Hossain c Patel b Raina2Mustafizur Rahman lbw b Rayudu9

EXTRAS (LB-3, W-13, NB-1)17

TOTAL (all out, 47 overs)240

FALL OF WKTS: 1-8, 2-62, 3-112, 4-118, 5-148, 6-197, 7-205, 8-216, 9-222.

BOWLING: Binny 6-0-41-1 (4w); Kulkarni 8-0-34-2 (3w); Yadav 4-0-33-0 (5w); Ashwin 10-1-35-2; Patel 9-1-44-1; Raina 8-0-45-3 (1w); Rayudu 2-1-5-1(1nb).

RESULT: India won by 77 runs.

SERIES: Bangladesh won the three-match series 2-1.

UMPIRES: Rod Tucker (Australia) and Enamul Haque (Bangladesh)

TV UMPIRES: Sharfuddoula Saikat (Bangladesh)

MATCH REFEREE: Andrew Pycroft (Zimbabwe).

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2015

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