DHAKA: Bangladesh sealed the maiden series victory over India by 2-1 after the visitors beat the hosts in the third game of the three-match ODI series in Dhaka on Wednesday.
India defeated Bangladesh by 77 runs in the third match at Sher-e-bangla Stadium after the Tigers beat the second ODI ranked holder by 79 runs in the first game June 18 and six wickets in the second on June 21.
Set 318 to chase, Bangladesh was 247 all in 47 over with Soumya Sarkar’s 40 and Sabbir Rahman’s 43.
Litton Das and Nasir Hossain contributed 34 and 32 runs respectively.
India’s Suresh Raina took three wickets while Dhawal Kulkarni and Ravichandra Ashwin bagged two wickets apiece. Sruart Binny, Axar Patel and Amvati Rayudu also picked up a wicket each.
Earlier, a pair of fifties by Shikhar Dhawan and MS Dhoni helped India, after sending to bat, to anchor at 317 runs for six losses in 50.0 overs.
Shikhar Dhawan was the highest scorer with adding 75 off 73 balls to the tally, followed by MS Dhoni’s 69 off 77 balls. Amvati Rayudu and Suresh Raina contributed 44 and 38 runs respectively.
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza led the attack on the visitors, picking up three wickets. The boy wonder Mustafizur Rahman took two wickets while all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan Shakib Al Hasan bagged one.
Mustafizur Rahman become is named the Man of the Series for his outstanding bowling performance. He took 13 wickets in this series, also his debut in ODI cricket.
"What was important was to put runs on the board, which we did," says MS Dhoni. “I won't be shy, I hadn't been moving well against spin but that had to do with the fact that there wasn't much batting behind me. This win is good, but we need to make a decision if we want quick bowlers or if we want good bowlers even if they are not quick. We have been backing too many quick bowlers who haven't been bowling well."
"The way we have played the whole series, we have a lot of positives, and a lot of lessons from today," says Mashrafe Mortaza. "Mustafizur has been brilliant. It was fantastic to see him bowl under such pressure. We lost too many wickets at regular intervals today. Our batsmen got in and got out. We need to learn from these mistakes. South Africa (is) coming next week. We need to be positive and fit."
** Tigers’ target 318 against India
BDST: 2240 HRS, JUN 23, 2015/UPFATE:2335 HRS
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