Clinical Display By India In Lung Opener

Yuvraj Singh gave ample proof of his class with a blistering maiden century as India opened theircampaign in the TVS Cup with a huge 200-run victory over hosts Bangladesh at theBangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka today.

Yuvraj struck a career-best unbeaten 102 to pull the visitors out of a mid-innings slump and takethem to a challenging 276 before the bowlers got into the act under floodlights to bundle out the hosts for a meagre 76, which equalled their lowest total, in 27.3 overs.

The Indians were struggling at 172 for six at one stage before Yuvraj, whose previous beat was 98 against Sri Lanka in2001, took centrestage with some amazing strokes to completely change the complexion of the game.

His rollicking 85-ball  knock contained nine boundaries and four sixes and alsofetched him the man-of-the-match award.

Chasing a target of 277, the home team never seemed to  be in the hunt after losing two wickets in the first two oversto suffer their 33rd consecutive defeat in one-day internationals.

It were the Indian fast bowlers who made merry taking all but one wicket between them. Zaheer Khan picked four wicketswhile Ajit Agarkar scalped three. Debutant speedster Avishkar Salvi claimed two wickets.

The Bangladesh innings began on a disastrous note as Salvi, who opened the bowling, got rid of opener MehrabHossain (0) off his fifth ball while Zaheer evicted Tushar Imran (2) in his first over to leave the hosts gaspingat five for two.

The 21-year-old Salvi, who generated a fair amount of  pace on a placid track, compounded the misery for the hometeam by accounting for the other opener Mohammad Ashraful (5) with Sehwag latching on to a smart catch at second slip.

None of the Bangladeshi batsmen looked comfortable against the Indian speedsters who kept a nagging line andlength, giving away very few runs in the early stages.

Alok Kapali, who joined the action with the team reeling at 12 for three, did not survive for long, falling prey toZaheer. Trying to go for a big hit, Kapali only succeeded in spooning a catch to Salvi near the boundary line.

The hosts received another jolt soon after when skipper Khaled Mashud became a victim of Agarkar, who also managedto pick up a wicket in his very first over. Mashud failed to negotiate an incoming delivery and was trapped in front of thewicket.

The procession continued as veteran Akram Khan, recalled into the team after being dropped from the World Cup squad, also fell to Agarkar with Parthiv Patel holding on to the outside edge to expose thetailenders.

Earlier, electing to bat, Virender Sehwag (63) provided the foundation for a big total as he launched an assault incharacteristic fashion but the middle order batsmen could not quite capitalise on the start.

Debutant Gautam Gambhir, who took first strike, got a reprieve when he was on three but he did not stay for longas he perished for 11. Sehwag seemed to be in a punishing mood as he clobbered the hapless Bangladeshi bowlers to all cornersof the park.

Sehwag was particularly severe on anything pitched short and notched up his fifty in style by loftingTapash Baisya for a mighty six over long on.

But his belligerence did not last long as he fell prey to left arm spinner Mohammad Rafique in his very first over.Sehwag blasted 11 fours and a six during his whirlwind knock of 63 which came off 51 balls.

The run rate dropped down quite a bit after Sehwag's fall as Saurav Ganguly (30) and Mohammad Kaif (23) were quitecontent in keeping the scoreboard moving with gentle pushes and nudges.

Once the captain departed, wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals as India slumped to 172 for six in the 38thover but Yuvraj, who seems to relish the challenge of pulling the team out of the pits, came up with his scintillating knockto leave the hosts in a daze.

Yuvraj and Agarkar added 92 runs for the seventh wicket partnership which was largely responsible for taking India toa respectable total.

PTI