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Bangladesh bow out

Indo-Pak final tomorrow

Mohammad Isam
Bangladesh ended their Kitpiy Cup campaign when they crashed to a massive seven-wicket defeat at the hands of India in the final group league match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur last night.
Rokibul Hasan struck a fine 89 as Bangladesh recovered from a poor start to post a decent 222 before being all out in the final over. But the marauding Indians chased down the target with 14.5 overs remaining, thanks to a fine unbeaten 107 by Gautam Gambhir and a robust half-century by Virender Sehwag, his aggressive opening partner.
The victory set up a predictable India-Pakistan final billed for tomorrow at the same venue.
Although Bangladesh gave
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themselves little chance of defending the modest target by dropping two chances early on, umpire Asoka de Silva stood in the way of a plumb leg-before decision.
Pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mort aza had Sehwag. who struck his second consecutive fifty, right in front of the stumps in the third over but the Lankan umpire again deprived the Tigers. After surviving that close call, the dashing righthander never looked behind during his fluent knock that contained seven fours and two sixes, both of which came over extra-cover off rookie paceman Dollar Mahmud, who gave away 24 in his first over. However, Sehwag was dismissed off the last ball when his mistimed pull fell on the lap ofTamim Iqbal.
Left-handed Gambhir struck 13 fours and a six for his fifth one-day hundred and second against Bangladesh and it was his inside-out hitting that really caught the eye. Later, 26 each from Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh shepherded India. It was however Gambhir who hit the winningrunsoftForhad Reza.
But Bangladesh will remember the match for Rokibul's wholehearted effort. He indeed missed a well-deserved century but his composed knock made sure that the hosts cross the 200-run mark in the competition.
After captain Ashraful won the toss and elected to bat. Rokibul displayed ease as he stroked five boundaries in his 117-ball innings which was cut short after he suffered tremendous cramps to his legs and right arm. He refused a runner and a little later, fell to a catch at mid-on off RP Singh and walked off to a rapturous applause from everyone in the ground including Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
The Tigers made a poor start when Tamim fell to new-ball bowler Praveen Kumar's away-swinger in the very first over. Shahriar Nafees followed Tamim, missing an off-cutter from RP that scissored through his bat and pad. With both the openers gone within six overs, Bangladesh were placed in a typically disastrous 17 for two.
Rokibul then joined captain Ashraful at the crease and the two steadied the ship, sharing a 76-run stand for the third wicket. Both batsmen displayed patience and refreshingly, picked singles and twos at will. Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla never threatened the pair but
Ashraful's innings ended in an anti-climactic fashion when he offered a tame return catch to Yusuf Pathan, who took his first international wicket to make it 93-3. Ashraful, having adopted a new approach to his batting stroked just two boundaries in his 67-ball 36.
The decision to send wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim was the blot in an otherwise decent day and it was only a matter of time before he skied a miscued slog-sweep which was easily caught by Suresh Raina.
Rokibul reached his second half-century in GDIs with a single off Chawla off his 78th delivery. He swiftly added 46 with Kapali and 35 with Mahmudullah Riyad. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza strode to the Mirpur ground rather late, but managed to slam the first and only six of the innings off part-timer Virender Sehwag.
For the Indians, left-armers RP and Irfan Pathan took three and two wickets respectively while Chawla Kumar and Yusuf took one each.