Centuries from KL Rahul and MS Dhoni helped India post a mammoth 359/7 against Bangladesh in the ICC World Cup Warm Up match in Cardiff on Tuesday. After a good start against India, Tigers failed to capitalize and restrict India to a low total. Winning the toss, skipper Mashrafe opted to bowl first. Bangladesh went into the match with a strong lineup while India’s one was a bit experimental. After a spell of shower that halted the game for some 15 minutes, the match restarted.
While it was good news for Bangladesh, the euphoria got doubled when Mustafizur Rahman in just his second over removed Shikhar Dhawan via leg-before, leaving India on 5/1. The start could have been better as Mustafizur produced the edge off Kohli, but Musfiqur did not anticipate and the gap between slip and wicket-keeper was too big, resulting a boundary. India have consolidated after the early loss of Dhawan as Kohli and Rohit Sharma look to weather the early movement. A few outside edges fell short of the slip cordon as well.
However, then Rubel came into the scene and picked up Rohit, as the right-hander dragged on a good-length delivery onto his stumps, leaving India at 50/2 after 13.3 overs. Kohli was looking good and was marching towards his fifty but then all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin came and bowled an Yorker. It got through the defences of Kohli as he was looking to play it towards the on side. Ball hits his pad just slightly and crashed on to the stumps. India lost another wicket in quick succession as Rubel got the better of Vijay Shankar, leaving India at 102/4 after 22 overs.
After that dismissal, KL Rahul and MS Dhoni started to show their ascendancy against Tiger bowlers. Rahul brought up his 45-ball fifty in the 26th over and then started hitting the ball all around the ground. Dhoni was also looking ruthless with the bat and reached his fifty off 47 balls, leaving India at 218/4 after 36.1 overs. Rahul then picked up his century off 94 balls in the 42nd over. Rahul and Dhoni’s 164-run alliance ended in the 43rd over.
Rahul’s 98-ball 108 run innings came to an end as Sabbir Rahman rattled his stumps. Rahul’s innings included 12 fours and 4 maximums. After Rahul, Dhoni didn’t stopped; he continued to smash Bangladeshi bowlers and picked up his quick fire century off 75 balls in 48th over, with a maximum. Dhoni then was then dismissed by Shakib after scoring 78-ball 133, including 8 fours and 7 maximums.
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