Asia Cup Match 1 as it happened: Rohit, Nehra power India to 45-run win

Rohit Sharma--the difference between the two teams today. In fact, there were two halves to his batting too...before and after the drop!

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 24, 2016

That’s it! India win by 45 runs.

A clinical performance from India. Having beind put into bat on a green pitch, they stuttered at the start losing  Dhawan, Kohli and Raina inside 8 overs for just 42 runs. But it all changed around when Rohit was dropped on 21 by Shakib. He added 55 runs with Yuvraj at first and then Hardik Pandya got into the act with a 18-ball 31 blitz to propel India to 166, an above par score at this venue. Rohit made 83. Chasing the target, Bangladesh were troubled by Bumrah and lost three wickets in 10 overs with just 52 on the board. They never got the momentum going and fell well short as the Indian pacers bowled really well.

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After 19 overs, Bangladesh 117/7 (Mushfiqur 14, Taskin 15)

After just three runs off the first five balls, Taskin hammers one over long on for a six. 9 runs off the over.

Bumrah continues…..

After 18 overs, Bangladesh 108/7 (Mushfiqur 14, Taskin 6)

Taskin drives one uppishly over cover for a four. A single more makes it 5 runs off the over. 59 needed off 12.

Double blow for Bangladesh! After 17 overs, Bangladesh 102/5 (Mushfiqur 13, Taskin 1)

Nehra bowls a low full toss on middle and leg, Mahmudullah plays a half-hearted heave and helps it straight into the hands of Rohit at deep mid-wicket. The new batsman Mortaza then drives one straight to point where Jadeja makes no mistake. The hat-trick ball is a leg side wide – a disappointment.

Taskin Ahmed is the new batsman.

Nehra back on….

After 16 overs, Bangladesh 96/5 (Mushfiqur 13, Mahmudullah 3)

Mushfiqur giving the crowd something to cheer about. He slices one through backward point for a four and then reverse sweeps one wide of the point fielder for the second boundary of the over. 11 runs off the over.

Jadeja back on…..

Bangladesh 85/5 in 15 overs
As per DL Bangladesh need to be 124/5#AsiaCupT20#IndvsBan

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 24, 2016

After 15 overs, Bangladesh 85/5 (Mushfiqur 5, Mahmudullah 1)

Pandya gives away just three runs and takes the crucial wicket of the set Sabbir in that over.

It has started drizzling in Mirpur……..

OUT! Pandya gets the crucial wicket. Sabbir Rahman c Dhoni b Pandya 44 (32b 2×4 2×6)

Short on middle and leg, Sabbir goes for a pull but gets a top edge, Dhoni settles under it and pouches it easily. 

Mahmudullah is the new batsman.

After 14 overs, Bangladesh 82/4 (Sabbir 41, Mushfiqur 1)

Another tight over from Ashwin. 6 singles off it. Sabbir tried a reverse sweep but straight to the deep point fielder.

After 12 overs, Bangladesh 76/4 (Sabbir 41, Mushfiqur 1)

A successful over for India. Jadeja conceded just 5 runs and there was the run out of Shakib who has had a forgettable evening having dropped Rohit who went on to score 83.

OUT! Huge mix up and Shakib is run out. Shakib Al Hasan run out 3 (8b 0x4 0x6) 

He is not happy with Sabbir as he trudges off. Shakib clips it to mid-wicket and sets off straightaway. Sabbir isn’t interested and sends him back. Rohit rushes onto it and whips it to Dhoni who clips the bails off, Skahib had given up.

Mushfiqur Rahim is the new batsman.

After 11 overs, Bangladesh 71/3 (Sabbir 38, Shakib 3)

Bangladesh slowly upping the ante. But they need more than this. Sabbir hammers one over deep square leg for a six. Four more singles make it 10 off the over. 20 have come off the last 2 overs.

Ashwin continues…..

After 10 overs, Bangladesh 61/3 (Sabbir 30, Shakib 1)

After a two singles off the first two balls, Sabbir breaks the shackles as he pulls one over deep mid-wicket for a six.  A single and a wide makes it 10 runs off the over.

Pandya continues….

After 9 overs, Bangladesh 51/3 (Sabbir 22, Shakib 0)

A very good over from Ashwin. He mixed it up really well and troubled Kayes before finally removing him. 3 runs and a wicket off it.

OUT! Kayes’ struggle ends. Imrul Kayes c Yuvraj Singh b Ashwin 14 (24b 1×4 0x6) 

The previous delivery was a quicker one, this one is well flighted, an off-spinner, Kayes gets down for a slog sweep but gets a top edge to long leg where Yuvraj takes a good catch. 

Shakib Al Hasan is the new batsman.

Ashwin continues.

After 8 overs, Bangladesh 48/2 (Sabbir 21, Kayes 13)

Hardik with another decent over. Kayes was mightily lucky in that over. He mistimes a couple and both fall in between the fielders. Sabbir then goes for a wild swing but misses. He then mistimes one through covers for a couple. 6 runs off the over.

After 8 overs, Bangladesh 42/2 (Sabbir 19, Kayes 10)

Sabbir welcomes Ashwin with a reverse sweep which races away wide of the short third man fielder. Ashwin mixed it up well thereafter and conceded just two runs. He beat Kayes’ cut with a carromm ball. 6 runs off the over.

Ravichandran Ashwin into the attack now.

After 7 overs, Bangladesh 36/2 (Sabbir 14, Kayes 9)

A good over from pandya. He concentrated on bowling short. Both batsmen didn’t connect the pulls. Pandya ended the over with a snorter as Kayes looked to give himself room but was beaten by the pace. 5 runs off the over.

Once upon a time, they rolled up newspapers and set fire to them to make torches. Now it's smartphones. Safer. pic.twitter.com/I9Klwwg3ER

— Shamya (@shamyad) February 24, 2016

If Bangladesh get these from here it will be their most dramatic performance so far in T20 internationals

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 24, 2016

Hardik Pandya into the attack now.

The Bangladesh batsmen are slogging way too much & too early. Score pressure.#AsiaCup #IndvsBan

— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) February 24, 2016

After 6 overs, Bangladesh 31/2 (Sabbir 12, Kayes 7)

Bumrah has bowled well so far. Sabbir goes for a swing across the line but gets an outside edge to third man for a couple. Kayes then goes for a heave but misses and gets hit on the thigh pad and then mistmies the next one to mid-wicket. Both the batsmen have struggled to connect it off the middle. Just four runs off the over.

Bumrah continues…

After 5 overs, Bangladesh 27/2 (Sabbir 9, Kayes 6)

A decent over for Bangladesh. Sabbir hammers a pull over mid-wicket for a boundary. Kayes then takes a risky single to mid on. There was some hesitation but they make it comfortably in the end. 8 runs off the over.

Nehra continues….

After 4 overs, Bangladesh 19/2 (Sabbir 3, Kayes 4)

A successful over for India. Bumrah got the wicket of Sarkar. Kayes misses a wild swing but then made amends as he crackes one over covers for a four. Four runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! Bumrah strikes now, Sarkar back in the hut. Soumya Sarkar c Dhoni b Bumrah 11 (14b 1×4 0x6) 

Short of a good length delivery outside off, it jumps off the surface. Sarkar looks to steer but it done in by the extra bounce. He ends up gloving it to the keeper. 

Imrul Kayes is the new batsman.

After 3 overs, Bangladesh 15/1 (Sarkar 11, Sabbir 3)

A very good over from Nehra. He had the wicket of Mithun and then there was a huge appeal for a caught behind turned down against Sabbir. Looked like a right desicion as it had hit the thigh pad as Sabbir was cramped for room and the ball hit his thigh pad on its way to first slip. Sabbir then mistimed his pull just over the head of the mid on fielder for a couple. 6 runs off the over.

OUT! Nehra gets Mithun! Mohammad Mithun b Nehra 1 (3b 0x4 0x6) 

A poor shot from Mithun. Nehra had cramped him for room off the previous ball, this time he goes for a wild swing across the line but misses it completely and finds his stumps shattered.

Sabbir Rahman is the new batsman.

After 2 overs, Bangladesh 9/0 (Sarkar 8, Ali 1)

After an ordinary first ball – short outside off, that Sarkar cuts uppishly for four – Bumrah comes back well to concede just six, two quick singles in that over. Sarkar got beat again outside off with Bumrah’s angle for a couple of times.

Jasprit Bumrah from the other end

After 1 over, Bangladesh 3/0 (Sarkar 3, Ali 0)

What an over to start from the veteran! Nehra starts off proceedings for India with five dot balls – and very good movement on offer. Sarkar was struggling to get bat on ball as it was moving away – 4th and 5th ball being beauties. Nehra unhappy with Bumrah’s fielding effort off the last ball, as the batsmen run three easily.

Alright, Mohd Mithun Ali and Soumya Sarkar open the batting for Bangladesh. All set for the chase of 167. Who’s opening the bowling for India? Looks like….Nehra. Ashwin from the other end? Let’s wait and watch…

This is the 4th time MS Dhoni has hit a six on the final delivery of the 20th over in T20Is. No one has hit more than 2 sixes.#IndvsBan

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) February 24, 2016

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India post 166/6

It was turning out to be a good last over as Al-Amin had removed Rohit and Pandya giving away just 2 runs off four balls. But then Dhoni took a couple and finished the innings is style as he pulled it over deep square leg for a six to propel India to 166/6.

Double blow for India.

Rohit is caught brilliant at deep mid-wicket by Sarkar, he departs for a well made 83. Pandya then looks to go downtown but mistimes it straight to the long on fielder. He departs for 31 off 18 ball. Both the set batsmen out.

Jadeja and Dhoni are the 2 new batsmen at the crease.

Al-Amin will bowl the final over.

After 19 overs, India 157/4 (Rohit 83, Pandya 30)

Pandya almost murdering the deliveries. He again smashes one over backward point this time for a four.  He then misses a couple of slogs and then thumps one down the ground for a couple. A risky bye off the last ball makes it 8 runs off the over.

MS Dhoni might have just produced another star in Hardik Pandya...

— 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝟏𝟖 (@Jaideep_18) February 24, 2016

After 18 overs, India 149/4 (Rohit 82, Pandya 24)

Hardik Pandya getting into the act. He smashes one through point for a boundary & then whips a low full toss through square leg for another one. 50 stand comes up. 13 runs off the over. 42 off the last 3.

Amin-Al Hossain into the attack now.

After 17 overs, India 136/4 (Rohit 79, Pandya 14)

Runs coming thick and fast now. Hardik cuts one powerfully wide of third man for a four and then Rohit mistimes his whips over deep backward square leg, just over the fielder for a six. After a wide, Pandya clobbers one over deep square leg for another six. Bangladesh have been sloppy in the field. 21 off the over. 39 off the last two.

After 16 overs, India 115/4 (Rohit 72, Pandya 1)

Rohit is playing a gem of an innings here. After four runs off the first three balls, Rohit lofts one just over long off for a six. He then pulls the next one over mid-wicket and then drives one powerfully through extra cover. 18 runs off the over. That drop might cost Bangladesh big time.

After 15 overs, India 97/4 (Rohit 55, Pandya 0)

Rohit had hit a slog sweep for four earlier in the over but then Shakib struck back to remove Yuvraj. 7 runs and a wicket off the over , a good one for Bangladesh.

OUT! Yuvraj is back in the hut. Yuvraj Singh c Soumya Sarkar b Shakib Al Hasan 15 (16b 1×4 0x6) 

He had tried this shot earlier but couldn’t connect it off the middle. He goes for that slog sweep again but doesn’t connect it again and helps it straight into the hands of the deep mid-wicket fielder. 

Hardik Pandya is the new batsman

FIFTY for Rohit! 

Rohit brings up his fifty off 42 balls. Four fours and a six in his innings so far. He’s played sensibly. The 50 stand also comes up.

After 14 overs, India 90/3 (Rohit 49, Yuvraj 15)

A good over for India. Yuvraj drives one through mid off with impeccable timing for a boundary. 5 more singles in the over makes it 9 runs. Mustafizur still has two overs remaining.

Mustafizur into the attack now.

After 13 overs, India 81/3 (Rohit 46, Yuvraj 9)

Yuvraj looked a bit impatient in that over. He mistimed a couple of slog sweeps. Just 5 singles off the over. A decent over from Shakib.

After 12 overs, India 76/3 (Rohit 43, Yuvraj 7)

Rohit is playing really well now. He’s crawled out of the defensive shell. He pulls a back of a length delivery on the leg stump over short fine leg for a boundary. Yuvraj then brings up 1000 T20I runs with a single to deep mid-wicket.  10 runs off the over.

After 11 overs, India 66/3 (Rohit 35, Yuvraj 5)

Taskin unlucky in that over. Rohit smashes one straight to point where Shakib drops it. Rohit then guides the next one through backward point for a four and then slashes one over deep point for a six. He then steers the next one to third man where the fielder makes a mess of it to make it 14 runs off the over.

After 10 overs, India 52/3 (Rohit 18, Yuvraj 5)

Another good over from Mahmudullah. 5 runs off it. Rohit has been kept quite so far. Not long before he opens up now. 50 has come up……

Mahmudullah continues….

After 9 overs, India 47/3 (Rohit 18, Yuvraj 3)

A good tight over from Shakib. Just three singles off it. Interesting that Mortaza is bowling two spinners in tandem despite fielding four pacers.

Shakib into the attack now.

After 8 overs, India 43/3 (Rohit 16, Yuvraj 1)

A very good first over from Mahmudullah, though he didn’t get much turn, he was disciplined and got the wicket of Raina. Four runs and a wicket off it.

OUT! Raina departs now. India in some trouble. S Raina b Mahmudullah 13 (13b 2×4 0x6)

It’s a length delivery on off, it goes straight on after landing. Raina charges down the track and looks to drive but misses and finds his middle stump knocked down. He was looking to be too aggressive and perished in process.

Yuvraj Singh is the new batsman.

Spin for the first time as Mahmudullah comes into the attack.

After 7 overs, India 39/2 (Rohit 14, Raina 12)

Rohit is playing patiently while Raina is going for his shots. Raina slices one over gully for a couple. Rohit steers one to third man for a single. There is slight hesitation in running between the wickets among these two.  8 runs off the over. Mortaza was a bit wayward.

Rohit Sharma #mankadidate pic.twitter.com/SxF7kI7gts

— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) February 24, 2016

Like in Pune, India have opted to go in with two seamers. Big opportunity for Pandya to show he can be seen as one at this level.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 24, 2016

Mortaza continues….

After 6 overs, India 31/2 (Rohit 10, Raina 9)

Raina in an animated mode here. He charges first ball and looks to drive but mistimes it uppishly just wide of the cover fielder for a boundary. He then misses a couple trying to slash and heave and in between he cuts one through point for a boundary. A good over from Al-Amin, thought he gave away a couple of fours, he bounced back well. 8 runs off the over.

Al-Amin back into the attack.

After 5 overs, India 23/2 (Rohit 10, Raina 1 )

Good start from Mortaza. He got the wicket of Kohli. Ramped up decent pace and then beat Raina’s outside edge as he looked to guide one. Four runs and a wicket off it.

OUT! Mashrafe strikes crucial blow. Kohli departs. V Kohli c Mahmudullah b Mashrafe Mortaza 8 (12b 1×4 0x6) 

Kohli looked very impatient at the crease and pays the price of it. He looks to give himself room and go downtown but doesn’t connect it off the middle and helps it straight into the hands of the mid off fielder. The Bangladesh players are absolutely pumed up.

Suresh Raina is the new batsman.

Mashrafe Mortaza into the attack now.

After 4 overs, India 19/1 (Rohit 7, Kohli 8)

Looks like India have come out with a plan to attack Mustafizur. But the left-arm pacer had the better of the batsmen.  Kohli straightaway chases a wide one first up but misses. He then again slashes at one but misses. He then plays a half hearted pull behind square leg for a couple. Mustafizur then takes one away and Kohli misses his inside out shot after taking a step down the track. Just three runs off the over. A good one from Mustafizur.

Mustafizur Rahman into the attack now.

After 3 overs, India 16/1 (Rohit 7, Kohli 6)

Taskin is ramping up good pace and hurrying up the batsmen. He is getting good inward movement too. The Bangladesh fielders are diving around in the field. Kohli looks to cut a good length delivery but it jags back in sharply, he gets an inside edge wide of short fine leg for a boundary. 7 runs off the over.

After 2 overs, India 9/1 (Rohit 5, Kohli 1)

A successful over for Bangladesh. Al-Amin struck off his third ball. He got some movement. Rohit, however, ended the over well as he punched one through covers for a boundary. 7 runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! Hossain strikes off his 3rd ball. Dhawan’s off stump is knocked down! S Dhawan b Al-Amin Hossain 2 (4b 0x4 0x6)

A touch full delivery on off, it shapes back in, Dhawan plays a loose push but is beaten by the inward movement. He finds his off stump knocked out. 

Virat Kohli strides out to the middle.

Al-Amin Hossain, he is a bit like Bumrah... #AsiaCup

— P₹akash $inha 🇮🇳 (@Predicto_Praky) February 24, 2016

Al-Amin Hossain will bowl from the other end.

After 1 over, India 2/0 (Rohit 1, Dhawan 0)

A good start from Taskin. There was zip and movement straightaway. The first one jagged back in with extra bounce and Rohit somehow chopped it into the ground. Rohit then looked to slash at one but it zipped off the track and beat his outside edge. 2 runs off the first over.

Rohit & Dhawan stride out to the middle. Taskin will start off proceedings.

The average score at this venue is 155/6.

India XI: Dhawan, Rohit, Kohli, Raina, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Pandya, Jadeja, Ashwin, Bumrah, Nehra.

Same pitch as #u19wcfinal
Same toss result
Hopefully the match result will be different this time around!#IndvsBan #AsiaCup

— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) February 24, 2016

Bangladesh XI: Kayes,  Sarkar, Rahman, Mahmudullah, Shakib, Rahim, Mortaza, Mithun, Hossain, Mustafizur, Taskin.

Dhoni fit, Kohli back and Rahane unfortunately has to sit out. Toss won by Bangladesh. Stiff test for batsmen in bowler friendly conditions

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) February 24, 2016

TOSS – Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to field. They are playing four seamers and seven batsmen. India have one change as Virat Kohli replaces Ajinkya Rahane in the starting eleven.

Good news for India fans is that Dhoni is walking out for the toss…..

India have so far competed against Bangladesh in 2 T20Is & won both - by 25 runs at Trent Bridge & by 8 wickets at Mirpur #AsiaCup #cricket

— Arun Gopalakrishnan (@statanalyst) February 24, 2016

Looks like a green pitch! Can we expect some fireworks from the pacers? #BANvIND #AsiaCupT20 pic.twitter.com/a4HwnQSZZj

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) February 24, 2016

It had rained earlier in the day but thankfully, everything seems to have cleared up. The covers are off.

Never seen anything as green as this track at Mirpur on the sub -continent!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 24, 2016

Not to forget the enormous experience they possess.  Bangladesh have five players who are set to feature in all six ICC World T20 events in Shakib, Mortaza, Mushfiqur, Tamim and Mahmudullah — you get an idea about the team’s balance.

Bangladesh’s strength is their bowling attack with Mustafizur, Taskin Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain expected to pose a lot of challenge for the Indian batsmen. With a handsome IPL contract in bag, Mustafizur may again intimidate the Indian batsmen with Taskin and Al-Amin for support.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, have hardly had any T20I exposure, other than the six – matches they played against Zimbabwe at the end of last year and beginning of this year – with a disappointing record of winning three and losing three. Hardly the right preparation for the ICC World T20, but Mortaza’s team will be raring to go in the Asia Cup.

http://www.firstpost.com/sports/stronger-teams-bigger-challenge-at-asia-cup-2016-indias-real-test-begins-ahead-of-world-t20-2637710.html

After a back-to-back series wins – against Australia and Sri Lanka, India go into the Asia Cup on back of immense confidence. However, as I have pointed out above – This will be their real test before the World T20. Click on the above link to read the full tournament preview.

Hello and welcome to the coverage of the Asia Cup opener between Bangladesh and India at at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur. Match starts at 7 PM IST. Follow this space for live scores and updates.