Kapali century lifts Tigers

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Alok Kapali hit a fighting maiden century to lead Bangladesh to their highest one-day total of 283-6 against India in the Super League match at the National Stadium here on Saturday.

The 24-year-old made 115 to lift the innings with a 112-run stand for the sixth wicket with Mahmudullah Riyad (26 not out) after Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bat on a flat, dry pitch.

Kapali came into in his own after top-order Bangladeshi batsmen struggled against some disciplined bowling. Only opener Tamim Iqbal with 55 made an early impression until Kapali arrived with the score at 120-4.

Kapali brought up his seventh one-day fifty by hoisting off-spinner Yusuf Pathan for his second six before smashing one off paceman Manpreet Gony.

His previous best one-day score of 89 not out came against the West Indies at Dhaka in 2002.

Kapali then smashed one more six off Gony before taking a single to bring up his hundred off just 86 balls. He finally holed out at deep square-leg off Gony in the last over.

Kapali smashed ten boundaries and five sixes during his entertaining 96-ball knock.

Bangladesh lost opener Nazimuddin (six) and skipper Mohammad Ashraful (20) by the 13th over. Iqbal, though, held his end intact and hit seven boundaries during his 67-ball knock.

It was left to Kapali who added 49 for the fifth wicket with Mushfiqur Rahim (22).

Bangladesh’s previous best total against India was 257-9 at Dhaka in 2004.

A win in this match will enhance India’s chances to qualify for July 6 finals as they already have two carry over points on account of beating the other qualifying team Pakistan in the first round.

India rested opener Virendar Sehwag, paceman Praveen Kumar and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla to bring Pragyan Ojha, Gony and Robin Uthappa.

Bangladesh dropped paceman Dollar Mahmud for all-rounder Farhad Reza from the line-up that lost to Sri Lanka in the first round.

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