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InDepth headlines national business sports cricket regional entertainment technology world travel autos health | in-depth coverage > Indian Cricket Team's Bangladesh Tour > Bangladesh stun India at Dhaka 23.07 IST 26th Dec 2004 By IndiaExpress Bureau 
Bangladesh pulled off a stunning 15-run upset win over favourites India in the second one-day cricket on Sunday to level the three-match series 1-1.India were caught napping by an opposition which gave the packed Bangabandhu Stadium a chance to celebrate the home team's first victory on home soil in 36 one-day internationals. Chasing Bangladesh's modest total of 229/9 in 50 overs, India were bowled out for 214 in 47.5 overs, crashing to their first-ever defeat to the minnows in any form of the game. Bangladesh, playing their 100th one-day international and having won only five of these before Sunday's day-night encounter, belied their greenhorn status by some excellent display with the ball and in the field. The Indians, who fielded a new-look team after being hardly tested in any of the matches of the series so far, paid the price for over-confidence and in the end made a heavy weather of chasing a modest Bangladesh total which was built around an enterprising 67 by Aftab Ahmed. For India, Sridharan Sriram, seeking to make a comeback, topscored with 57 while Mohammad Kaif also made a fluent 49 but that was about all as the visitors capitulated against a supremely determined opposition. The brightest phase of the innings came when Kaif and Sriram featured in a 63-run stand for the fourth wicket. Joginder Sharma showed pluck in unleashing audacious shots to remain unbeaten on 29 but the lower order cracked under pressure. The jam-packed stadium erupted in delirium after Aftab Ahmed's direct hit knocked the non-striker's stumps to run last man Murali Kartik out in the 48th over. Paceman Mashrafe Mortaza, declared man-of-the-match for his all-round display, provided a thunderous start as he broke through the defence of Sehwag. But more shock was to follow as Yuvraj Singh's full-blooded drive off Tapash Baisya then landed straight in the hands of Rajin Saleh at cover. At seven for two, Bangladesh smelled blood. It also meant captain Sourav Ganguly had to curb his attacking instincts and with Sriram also taking his time to settle down, it was a period of lull. Baishya strayed in line and length occasionally and there were a couple of overthrows, but the field placings were attacking, so much that India's first 50 came only in the 17th over. Bangladesh tasted another success when Ganguly, trying to improve the scoring rate, drove off the medium pace of Khaled Mahmud and ended up with a simple catch to Mortaza (2 for 36 in 9 overs) at point. He earned the benefit of doubt from the TV umpire for a run out appeal but soon ran out of luck. After being beaten by Rafique while trying to sweep, the left-handed batsman lost sight of the ball that rebounded off the keeper's pads on to the stumps. As he came out of the crease, Mashud reacted in an instant to grab the ball and pluck the stumps from the ground. Sriram's 57 came off 91 balls and contained seven fours. India's second 50 came in 10 overs and although Dinesh Mongia fell cheaply, there was no let up in the shot-making. Mahendra Singh Dhoni adopted a slam-bang approach, but after striking two boundaries, played a pull shot off Mortaza that was taken low at midwicket by captain Bashar. That brought the crowd back to its feet. The equation was balanced with 60 needed from 60 balls. But what followed defied logic with even Kaif being run out and two balls later Ajit Agarkar holing out to Aftab Ahmed, India suddenly reduced to 172 for eight. Sharma and Zaheer Khan then struck four boundaries between them, and the 200 came in 45th over. But just when things seemed to be under control, Zaheer went for a big one against Mahmud and Mortaza, who has been the face of Bangladesh's new found confidence, took a well judged catch at long on. However, the moments of domination Aftab enjoyed over the Indians was interspersed by a series of setbacks and it needed some pyrotechnics from Mortaza to push the hosts' total past the 200 mark. Aftab's 67 came off 98 balls with five fours and a six, and he featured in two crucial partnerships with Mohammad Ashraful (28) and Khaled Mashud (20). Mortaza slammed three fours and a six for his unbeaten 31 as he stitched 39 runs for the ninth wicket, which fetched as many 46 runs from the last five overs. Agarkar and Zaheer claimed two wickets each but were expensive while Murali Kartik was more economical with figures of 2-43. The city was still shaking itself out of slumber when strong tremors were felt in the morning. But that did not stop the thousands of fans from filling the stadium to capacity for the day-night encounter. The hosts got started on the right note when Bashar won the toss for the second time and chose to make first use of a good batting track. But Mohammad Rafique failed once again as a pinch-hitting opener, as he fell leg before to Zaheer Khan in the second over of the match. Neither did the other opener Nafis Iqbal last long as he flashed outside the off stump for an edge to Dhoni, the 23-year old wicketkeeper's first dismissal in international cricket. in-depth coverage > Indian Cricket Team's Bangladesh Tour > |
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