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Bangladesh win Asia Cup opener

Saturday, July 17 2004

Asia Cup Game 1

Bangladesh sealed a 116-run win in the Asia Cup curtain-raiser against Hong Kong at the SSC Ground in Colombo. Their bowlers made up for an undisciplined batting effort to deny Hong Kong a victory in their One-Day International debut.

The more-fancied Bangladesh were taken somewhat by surprise when sent in to bat by Hong Kong captain Rahul Sharma. The new-ball attack comprised of Afzaal Haider and Khalid Khan, who, like most of the team, learnt their trade in Pakistan or India before 'adopting' Hong Kong. The former of the pair nipped out Mohammad Ashraful early on for 9, making up for lack of pace with considerable swing and bounce. The bowlers, backed up by sharp and enthusiastic fielding, never fully allowed the Bangladesh batsmen to settle.

Captain Habibul Bashar managed a responsible 32 before sweeping Najeeb Amer to square leg to leave Bangladesh 95/2. Rajin Saleh and Alok Kapali managed just 12 between them, both falling to Ilyas Gul. Javed Omar crawled towards a half-century in his typically obdurate manner, but was ultimately runout for a vital, if unenthralling, 68 from 113 balls. Khaleds Mashud and Mahmud managed twenties to lift Bangladesh past 200 to their eventual total of 221/9. Mahmud was last man, cleverly runout by the aptly named wicketkeeper Tim Smart.

Hong Kong appeared anything but debutants with their impressive performance in the field, but their inexperience was manifest in the run chase. Tapash Baisya and Mushfiqur Rehman had the opening batsmen in trouble early on before Mushfiqur beat Cherapumbil's defences, bowling him for nought. The batting appeared purposeless against accurate early spells, with Smart (9) and French (10) concerning themselves mainly with staying at the crease rather than the pursuit of runs. French fell to Mushfiqur, before Smart became the first victim of debutant Abdur Razzaq's Left-Arm spin.

The remainder of the innings fell away, topped by Tabarak Dar's 20. Razzaq managed three wickets on debut, while Mushiqur, Khaled Mahmud and Mohammad Rafique contributed two each. A late stand of 29 between Lama and Ilyas Gul spared Hong Kong the indignity of being bowled out for less than 100, but Bangladesh's total was never threatened as Hong Kong fell 116 short with 105 all out.

Despite what was, in the end, a resounding defeat, Hong Kong certainly did not shame themselves on their ODI debut. At the halfway stage, few would have written them off completely, not least Bangladesh's captain Habibul Bashar. Bangladesh's next assignment against Pakistan on Saturday will prove a far tougher proposition.

Score Summary
Hong Kong won the toss and elected to field first

Bangladesh innings: 221/9 Javed Omar 68 (113); Ilyas Gul 46/3 (10)

Hong Kong innings: 105a.o. Tabarak Dar 20 (44); Abdur Razzaq 17/3 (9)

Result: Bangladesh won by 116 runs
Points: Bangladesh 6, Hong Kong 0

Man of the Match: Javed Omar 68 (113)

Posted by Adam