Umesh, Bhuvi derail B’desh after Karthik shines with bat
FLAWLESS India gears up in perfect fashion for Pakistan after crushing Bangladesh by 240 runs
LONDON: Indian pacers tore through the Bangladesh batting line-up as the ICC Champions Trophy title holders handed their neighbours a 240-run thrashing in a warm-up match at The Oval on Tuesday.
After setting a total of 324/7 courtesy of fifties from Shikhar Dhawan, Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik, who top-scored with 94, India’s bowlers put on an outstanding show as Bangladesh collapsed for a paltry 84. Umesh Yadav struck in the fourth over, dismissing Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman in succession. Sarkar edged an out-swinger to wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, while Sabbir was bowled off an in-swinger.
Imrul Kayes was removed by Mohammed Shami in the next over while Bhuvneshwar Kumar sent back all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan for 7 in the seventh over, the Indian pacers exploiting helpful conditions on an overcast day.
Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain fell in the next six balls to reduce Bangladesh to 22/6. Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehedi Hasan put together a 25-run stand for the seventh wicket before the former was caught by Ravindra Jadeja at backward point off Shami.
Mehedi and Sunzamul Islam added 30 runs for the eighth wicket, the highest partnership of Bangladesh’s innings. Mehedi, who top-scored with 24, fell to Jasprit Bumrah in the 20th over. Three overs later, Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Sunzamul for 18 before Pandya completed the rout by claiming Rubel Hossain’s wicket. Only three batsmen managed to reach double figures for Bangladesh.
Dhawan, Karthik and Pandya powered India to 324/7 as India batsmen cashed in on a full innings, after beating New Zealand on the Duckworth/Lewis method following rain. Yuvraj Singh, had been down with fever, recovered but restricted himself to facing some light bowling.
Put in by Bangladesh, Kohli and MS Dhoni did not bat, handing useful practice to the rest of the line-up.
Bangladesh took two early wickets. Rohit Sharma, who missed the first warm-up as he reached London late, played a Rubel Hossain delivery on to the stumps for one.
No 3 Ajinkya Rahane too failed to last long, playing on to the stumps.Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik revived the innings. Karthik’s case was helped after Mosaddek Hossain dropped him on 29.
Karthik didn’t let slip the chance as he put on a 100-run partnership with Dhawan, who completed his fifty. The lefthanded opener, a key player in the 2013 victory, fell for 60, pulling Sunzamul Islam to Mehedi Hasan at midwicket.
Kedar Jadhav scored 31 off 38 balls and added 75 runs for the fifth wicket with Karthik before being dismissed by Sunzamul. Karthik retired out on 94.
PANDYA BOOST
Hardik Pandya, who came in after Kedar Jadhav’s dismissal, looked solid. The all-rounder raised an 86-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja for the sixth wicket, which proved crucial in taking the Virat Kohli-led side past the 300-run mark.
Jadeja kept his big-hitting in check, preferring singles to score 32 off 36 before falling to Rubel Hossain. He hit only one six.