India romped to a seven-wicket win in the rain-hit first one-day international against Bangladesh taking 1-0 lead in the three-match series in Dhaka on Sunday.
Set a revised target of 150 in 26 overs, India, who are without at least seven regular players, reached 153-3 with seven balls to spare. The visitors owed their win to modern drainage system at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, which had gone under ankle-deep water after heavy downpour for around 30 minutes on the first day of monsoon.
India were 100-1 in 16.4 overs when rain started, giving an impression that anything is possible here but cricket.
Play remained suspended for two hours and 44 minutes before the ground became ready much to the dismay of the home side with India needing only 50 runs in 9.2 overs.
Sakib al Hasan struck in the second ball on resumption courtesy of umpire Enamul Haq, who judged Cheteshwar Pujara leg-before in a delivery that was going high.
Enamul also had enormous contribution in Sakib’s first wicket that saw Robin Uthappa (50 off 44 balls) given leg-before despite a big inside edge.
Ziaur Rahman took a spectacular catch as Mashrafee bin Murtaza removed Ajinka Rahane for 64 runs but it was too late to make an impact on the result.
Earlier, Sakib and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim both struck a fifty each as Bangladesh overcame a sluggish start to post 272-9 after opting to bat first.
Opener Tamim Iqbal registered yet another failure suffering a duck and one-down Mominul Haque did not do anything to justify his selection ahead of Shamsur Rahman, scoring only six from 17 balls.
However, Anamul Haque and Mushfiur Rahim steadied the innings before losing their wickets untimely.
Mushfiq made 59 from 63 balls with three fours and as many sixes after Anamul departed for 44 having faced 60 balls.
Sakib was set for a big innings, reaching his 50 off 55 balls, but he faltered immediately to return for 52.
Mahmudullah (41) showed some signs of getting back to form after being promoted ahead of Nasir Hossain, who scored 22 as Bangladesh thought they have made a total which they could defend.
-With New Age input
