Gautam Gambhir played a sedate but mature knock of 82 to power India to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the second league match of the Asia Cup on Wednesday.

Despite losing two quick wickets after Sehwag’s departure, Gautam Gambhir did not lose his composure and gave India a solid platform for victory, which they completed with 19.2 overs to spare. Gambhir made 82 off just 101 balls with the help of 6 boundaries.

India suffered a little hiccup in the middle when they lost two quick wickets after Sehwag’s departure. Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma failed to capitalize on the opportunity and got out for an identical score of 11. Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan claimed both the wickets.

But Gambhir, in company of captain MS Dhoni, took the onus on himself and helped India start their Asia Cup journey on a positive note.

MS Dhoni played a typical circumspective knock of 38 and remained unbeaten to help India clinch an easy victory.

Chasing 168 for victory, India’s most trusted opening pair, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, gave India a good start, taking their team to 37 for no loss after umpire decided not to take the break despite Bangladesh being skittled out for 167.

But, Sehwag played one lose shot off Mortaza, only to be caught behind by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim for a quickfire 11 off 14 balls.

Earlier, Indian spinners performed brilliantly to bowl Bangladesh out for a paltry 167 runs in their first match of Asia cup on Wednesday.

Virender Sehwag bowled brilliantly as he took four wickets for just 6 runs. He took three wickets in his last over to wrap up Bangladesh’s innings in just 35th over.

Despite getting a superb start through their openers, Bangladesh fumbled as soon as they lost opener Tamim Iqbal. Iqbal, along with the other opener Imrul Kayes, took the Bangladesh score to 35 in just 2.5 overs before Kumar induced him into a false shot that landed safely in the hands of cover where Suresh Raina took a smart catch.

Praveen Kumar gave India the first breakthrough when he removed dangerous looking Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal for 22. Iqbal slammed 2 fours and a six during his short but entertaining stay at the crease.

Mohammad Ashraful again promised much, only to disappoint the Bangladeshi fans. Ashraful, considered to be the most talented batsman of his country, played a casual looking shot off Ashish Nehra only to be caught at long-leg boundary. Ashraful made only 20 off 37 balls.

After Ashraful’s departure, Bangladesh lost two quick wickets in opener Imrul Kayes and captain Shakib Al Hasan.

Kayes was removed by Ashish Nehra for 37 while Shakib was brilliantly bowled by Harbhajan Singh for 7. Kayes played a good knock of 37 off 35 balls. His innings consisted of 7 fours.

Mahmudullah, along with stumper Mushfiqur Rahim, tried to build the platform for his team with a 55-run stand, but he was removed by left-armer Ravindra Jadeja for 23, leaving Bangladesh in a spot of bother.

Immediately after Mahmudullah took the long walk back to the pavilion, Bangladesh lost another wicket in the form of well-set Mushfiqur Rahim, who was playing really well for his 55-ball 30.

Earlier, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and elected to bat first against India in the Asia Cup league match on Wednesday.

India had left out Ashok Dinda, Pragyan Ojha, R Ashwin and Saurav Tiwary.

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Even before the start of their Asia Cup campaign, India had some anxious moments as ace off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was uncertain for the first match against Bangladesh.

According to those present at the team`s practice session, the spinner was seen with a bandaged leg and would be a doubtful starter for tomorrow`s game against the minnows.

A rejuvenated India would aim to redeem their tarnished pride and end a 15-year-old jinx when they start their Asia Cup cricket campaign against Bangladesh at the Rangiri Dambulla ground here on Wednesday.

Hurting from their debacles in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup (West Indies) and the tri-series in Zimbabwe, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men would be desperate to win back the confidence of fans after being accused of being more loyal to their IPL teams than the country.

The Asia Cup title, which they last won in 1995, will be the perfect balm to calm frayed nerves and bury the ghosts of the recent past.

Unlike in the West Indies and Zimbabwe, India have a near full-strength team to achieve what they have set out for.

Except for Sachin Tendulkar, who opted to spend time with his family, and Yuvraj Singh, dropped for poor form, India more or less have the nucleus of the 2011 World Cup team here.

Virender Sehwag’s return provides the firepower to the batting which had been rudderless without substantial starts at the top of the order.

The Delhi marauder, who was nursing a shoulder injury, is arguably one of the most feared batsman in international cricket capable of demolishing any attack on his day.

Dhoni would be looking forward to fireworks from his deputy to reignite the confidence of his beleaguered legion.

If Sehwag can provide a blistering start in the company of Gautam Gambhir, the rest of the batting, propped up by the youthful exuberance of Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should be capable of holding its own in the four-nation event.

Dhoni would also be itching to set the record straight, especially after his leadership was questioned in the immediate aftermath of the Twenty20 World Cup.

He might bat up the order, probably at four or five, depending on the start provided by the top-half.

If the batsmen conjure match-winning totals, the Indian bowling, which has been a subject of debate over the last six months, should be able to provide the results that the fans have longed for since the successful conquest against South Africa at home in March.

The new ball will be shared by Zaheer Khan, Asish Nehra and Praveen Kumar, who has been fortunate to regain his place in the side despite dismal performances in the past.

It augurs well that Zaheer, who was virtually on his haunches during the unsuccessful campaign in the Twenty20 World Cup after an enervating IPL, looks rearing to go following the break.

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Pragyan Ojha should play the supporting cast to Harbhajan Singh in the spin department.

Though the four-time Asia Cup champions start favorites, they can’t take Bangladesh lightly. Shakib-Ul Hasan’s men have pulled off upsets in the past and could do so here as well.

“We want to improve every time we go on to the field and want to win games. We have the potential to win matches. Hopefully, we can some games here,” said Shakib.

The teams:

India: M S Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Pragyan Ojha, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Asish Nehra, Ashok Dinda, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sourabh Tiwari.

Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Jahurul Islam, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful, Mahmudullah, Mushrafe Mortaza, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Syed Rasel, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul islam, Suhrawadi Shuvo.

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Defending champions Sri Lanka fought jangled nerves to override Shahid Afridi`s blistering century and record an exciting 16-run win over Pakistan in the first match of the Asia Cup cricket tournament here on Tuesday.

Chasing 243 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Pakistan seemed on course for a win as long as Afridi (109) was in the middle. But once Muttiah Muralitharan ended his scintillating 76-ball knock Lasith Malinga (5/34) mowed down the lower order and bundled Pakistan for 226 in 47 overs.

Earlier, Sri Lanka showed great character in recovering from a poor start to make a fighting 242 for nine, thanks in main to the never-say-die Angelo Mathews (55 not out), Mahela Jayawardene (54) and Kumar Sangakkara (42).

Afridi braved cramps and kept fighting but his batting colleagues completely let him down, something that could be gauged from the fact that the next best score was Umar Akmal`s 30.

Sitting pretty when Pakistan were staggering at 32 for four in the 14th over, Sri Lanka suddenly found themselves in dire straits when Afridi cut loose. Three Afridi-inspired partnerships — worth 73, 49 and 51 — saw Pakistan roar back into the game but his fall in the 41st over brought Lanka back into the game.

Hampered by a groin injury, the gallant Afridi struck as many as seven sixes and eight boundaries while producing his fifth ODI century. He dominated the Lankan attack until Muralitharan, battered and bruised by Afridi`s onslaught, had the last laugh.

Earlier, a two-wicket burst at the start of the innings by Malinga had put Sri Lanka firmly in control of the game until Afridi stepped on the gas and nearly turned the match on its head.

If Pakistan had blooded Shahzaib Hasan and Umar Amin with a hope of preparing their team for the 2011 World Cup, the two young top-order batsmen failed to live up to expectations.

They struggled against Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara, with neither having a clue against the seaming ball.

But Afridi made little of the pressure, smashing successive sixes of Farveez Maharoof and heaving the wily Muralitharan over the pickets on five occasions.

Malinga (5 for 34) was the pick of the bowlers, overshadowing an encouraging performance by Shoaib Akhtar who bowled his heart out on an unresponsive wicket.

Playing his first international match in 13 months, the controversial Pakistan fast bowler scalped three wickets in four short spells to prove that he still has fire in his belly to bowl full tilt at accomplished batsmen.

But his comeback wasn`t as telling as Pakistan would have expected it to be. The 34-year-old, who last played in a ODI against Australia in Abu Dhabi on May 3, 2009, did work up speeds in the region of 140 plus, but was far from his menacing best.

Evidently, he lacked rhythm and fitness, indicating that he could possibly break down during the course this four-nation tournament. His run-up was staggered and direction wasn`t pin-point but he was never short of effort, putting his heart into every delivery he hurled at the Lankans.

Akthar bagged the scalps of Upul Tharanga (11), Chamara Kapugedara (2) and Farveez Maharoof (1).

Sri Lanka were well served by Jayawardene and captain Sangakkara who raised 83 fighting runs for the third wicket.

The hosts were in a spot of bother at 36 for two when the two most experienced batsmen in the side came up with the rescue act.

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Playing at the highest level is the only way young Indian bowlers can bridge the gap between international and domestic cricket, according to Indian skipper MS Dhoni. “There is a huge difference between domestic and international cricket. Only by playing at the highest level will our younger bowlers be able to bridge the gap. The series has given us an opportunity to play youngsters and prepare them for international cricket,” Dhoni said at the unveiling ceremony of the Asia Cup trophy on Monday.

“I am not here to analyze our performance in Zimbabwe. We lost to Zimbabwe but we beat Sri Lanka. But you have to understand that we have had fitness issues with our bowlers and we do not have experienced pacemen. The series in Zimbabwe gave us a chance to play young fast bowlers,” Dhoni said.

“If just before the World Cup (2011) one of our main bowlers gets injured then we need bowlers to replace him. The Zimbabwean series gave exposure to such bowlers.”

Dhoni also expressed relief that seniors players who were rested during the Zimbabwean series are back for the Asia Cup. “It is good to have the senior players back. They have worked on their fitness. During the break they have also worked on their skills, which they couldn’t have done during the season. I am confident that they will perform to their potential.”

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