On-song Sehwag slams first 2011 WC ton

Bellevision Media Network

Mirpur, 19 February 2011: Virender Sehwag stamped his authority on the hapless Bangladeshi bowlers, slamming a blistering century, the first one to open the centurion account in the 2011 World Cup. Continuing with the belligerent form, he helped India cruise past the 250-run mark.

 

At the other end, Virat Kohli slammed a half century in less than a run a ball to help India dominate the proceedings at the Sher E Bangla National Stadium while a runner was called in for the highest run getter of the venue, Virender Sehwag.

 

Fearless by nature, Sehwag’s form sent tremors down the Bangla camp when he brought up his fifty with a six. Continuing with the same approach, he kept on sending the home team’s fielders on a leather hunt.

 

Earlier, a terrible mix-up that saw both batsmen at one side of the turf had spelled the end of Sachin Tendulkar’s innings after he dished out 28 runs from 29 balls in his vintage touch.

 

Gautam Gambhir was the second casualty of the day as he dragged the ball back into his stumps at a score of 39 runs.

 

In the initial ten overs, Abdur Razzak had managed to sneak a couple of tight ones to halt the Indian juggernaut as the world’s best opening duo of Sehwag and Tendulkar looked ominous right from the word go.

 

The duo raced the total past the 50-run mark in the ninth over, effectively rotating the strike as the spinners came in to action. (*This was the 16th fifty-run partnership between Sehwag and Sachin).

 

The high intensity tournament opener saw pressure on the Bangladesh outfit more than the experienced Indians, their bowlers lacking the intensity with the best bats in business starting their office.

 

Pitch Report: The straight boundaries are longer than the square boundaries. The wicket is firm, there are a few cracks, but they won`t make much of a difference for an ODI. The wicket will be a bit slow, there will be some turn later on. The team batting second may find it a bit difficult to bat on. There will be some dew as well feels Sunil Gavaskar.

 

Minnows Bangladesh had ensured India`s early exit in the first round of the 2007 edition at the Caribbeans and Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men will be eager to settle the score and kick start their campaign on a positive note.

 

Teams:

 

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Imrul Kayes, Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Shakib Al Hasan(c), Raqibul Hasan, Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam

 

India (Playing XI): Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni(w/c), Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, S Sreesanth