Sehwag, Kohli centuries set up India victory

DHAKA (AP):

Sparkling centuries from Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli steered India to a convincing 87-run victory over Bangladesh in the opening match of the ICC World Cup at Mirpur Stadium yesterday.

Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan's decision to field first in the Group B match backfired as his bowlers failed to contain the onslaught led by opener Sehwag, with India going on to amass 370-4.

Despite a promising start, Bangladesh could only reply with 283-9.

Sehwag struck a career-best 175 and Kohli produced 100 not out, adding 203 runs for the third wicket, to dash Bangladesh's hopes of a winning start before the home crowds against their fellow World Cup co-host.

Sehwag seemed unstoppable during his 140-ball innings, smashing 14 fours and five sixes. He paced his innings well, chipping the ball around when the boundaries were not coming and using his feet well against spinners to increase the scoring rate later in the innings.

Sehwag equalled Kapil Dev's 175 not out against Zimbabwe at Taunton in 1983 for the fourth highest individual score in World Cup cricket and the second highest by an Indian in the tournament.

The highest individual score in the World Cup is 188 not out by South African Gary Kirsten against the United Arab Emirates in 1996 and the highest by an Indian is 183 by Sourav Ganguly versus Sri Lanka at Taunton in 1999.

Sehwag was finally out in the 48th over, dragging in a ball from left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan.

"I was not looking at an individual score of 200 but was definitely happy to have batted so long," Sehwag said. "I am also happy to have equalled Kapil Dev's score though I know Sourav has scored more in another World Cup match against Sri Lanka."

Sehwag and his fellow Delhi teammate Kohli ensured the run-rate remained well above six an over and increased it further after the batting powerplay was taken in the 35th over. The two garnered 48 runs in those five overs and continued in the same vein later.

Finding the gaps

Kohli found the gaps with ease, smashing eight fours and two sixes during his 83-ball knock and getting to the three-figure mark in the final over.

Sehwag, who was declared Man of the Match, was also involved in useful half-century stands with Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir as India avenged a shock defeat by Bangladesh in the 2007 World Cup.

Tendulkar was run out for 28 because of an uncharacteristic bad judgment of a single as he set off without realising that Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, at mid-wicket, would intercept the ball on its way to long-on. Sehwag did not respond and the two were stuck at the same end. Wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim completed the dismissal with enthusiasm.

Left-hander Gambhir showed a better understanding with Sehwag, but was out when shaping up well at a run-a-ball 39. Off-spinner Mahmudullah Riad bowled him off his first delivery, coming from round the stumps.

"We could have bowled better," Al Hasan said. "We bowled too many boundary balls, that cost us the game."

Bangladesh displayed an early flourish that would have been useful had the target not been so huge.

The top four batsmen, all left-handers, put up a brave fight in front of a packed house, but timely strikes by Munaf Patel and Harbhajan Singh put paid to their hopes.

Openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes added 56 in 6.5 overs, once taking 24 runs off a Shantakumaran Sreesanth over, before Kayes inside-edged a delivery to the stumps from Patel on 34.

"I thought all of us had a good game except for Sreesanth," Sehwag quipped after the match.

Iqbal made 70, Zunaed Siddique got 37 and captain Shakib Al Hasan 55, but it was not possible to keep up the run rate.

Patel was the most successful bowler with 4-48.

Bangladesh's next engagement is against Ireland here on February 25, while India take on England at Bangalore on February 27.

South Africa, West Indies and Netherlands are the other teams in Group B.