DHAKA, 12 April 2003 — Bangladesh crashed to a humiliating 199-run defeat against India with their second-lowest score ever in the opening match of a three-nation tournament here yesterday. Bangladesh were bowled out for 77 in 27.3 overs chasing a target of 277 set by the World Cup finalists courtesy Yuvraj Singh’s maiden century.
The home side, who have yet to win a match since their victory over Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup, managed just one more run than their lowest ever score of 76 against Sri Lanka at Colombo last year. Their previous lowest tally against India was 99 in an Asia Cup match at Chittagong way back in 1988.
The Indian pace attack, led by left-armer Zaheer Khan, proved too much for a side playing poor shots. Zaheer took four wickets while Ajit Agarkar and debutant Aavishkar Salvi bagged three and two respectively.
But hard-hitting left-hander Yuvraj stole the show with a superb 102 off just 85 balls as India scored 276 after electing to bat at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. Yuvraj, whose previous best was 98 not out against Sri Lanka at Colombo in 2001, struck nine boundaries and four huge sixes to once again show his utility in the middle-order.
The 21-year-old put on 92 runs for the seventh wicket with Agarkar (20) as the World Cup finalists got to a big total despite an unimpressive display by the rest of the middle-order. Yuvraj played positively from early on, taking over from opener Virender Sehwag, who had earlier in the day scored an explosive 63 off 51 deliveries.
Yuvraj reached his century in the last over as he struck seamer Khaled Mahmud for a four to move from 97 to 101, lucky to reach the three-figure mark as the Indian innings folded up with three balls remaining.
Sehwag, who did not have a very fine run in last month’s World Cup, celebrated being named vice captain of a new-look side by striking 11 fours and a six. Sehwag was trapped leg before wicket by left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique in the 13th over of the innings as Bangladesh’s spinners tried to fight hard against a rusty Indian batting line-up.
Skipper Saurav Ganguly (30) and Mohammad Kaif (23) perished when looking good for big scores and India were 172-6 when Yuvraj and Agarkar came together. Ganguly had threatened to unleash a barrage of sixes as he took two off an over from left-arm spinner Rafique.
Dropped on 11 by Alok Kapali at gully off seamer Khaled Mahmud, the clean-hitting batsman was soon dismissed by leg-spinner Kapali, caught at long on. India, here without superstar Sachin Tendulkar and four other top players, blooded left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir and paceman Aavishkar Salvi. Salvi gave a good account of himself bowling under lights, but Gambhir could score only 11 off 22 deliveries.
Jayasuriya Tenders
Resignation Again
Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya handed a letter of resignation to the cricket board yesterday, after telling media at the Sharjah Cup earlier this week that he wanted to step down.
The 33-year-old all rounder had offered his resignation after Sri Lanka lost to Australia in the World Cup semifinal in March, but he was persuaded to stay on for Sharjah.
“We received a letter this morning. The process is that the selectors will decide whether they are accepting it, and then who should replace him,” said Anura Tennekoon, chief executive of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka.
Tennekoon said a decision on the captaincy would be made in the next few days. The cricket board also said in Colombo yesterday that former Test cricketer Lalith Kaluperuma had been appointed head of the national selectors, replacing Guy de Alwis, who resigned in protest against the ministry’s interference in the selection process.
The other three members of the committee are batsman Aravinda de Silva, who retired after the World Cup, and former cricketers Ashley de Silva and Roger Wijesuriya.
