Raina stars again for India

Suresh Raina celebrates reaching his century

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Suresh Raina continued his fine form by hitting an unbeaten century to guide India to a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup on Saturday.

The batsman notched his maiden one-day ton on Wednesday in the defeat of Hong Kong and was in equally fine touch on Saturday to make light work of Bangladesh’s target of 284.

He hit three sixes and 11 fours in his 116 not out, and was ably supported by opener Gautam Gambhir (90) and Yuvraj Singh (36no) - the latter smashing a four and a superb six to bring India to within six runs of victory.

Raina fittingly hit the winning runs in the next over, the 44th, by easing Abdur Razzak for a two and two singles.

Bangladesh made a promising start to the defence of their total and it could have been a different result had some woeful fielding not blighted their efforts.

Shahadat Hossain struck early to bowl opener Robin Uthappa in the fourth over, and them dispatched Rohit Sharma (22), who was caught at midwicket by Farhad Reza.

A collision between Mahmudullah and Tamim Iqbal in the field, which left the latter needing ice treatment on a bruised head, was a sign of things to come.

Ghambir, who had raced to 56, was dropped in the 16th over and Mahmadullah was culpable when he put down Raina at fine leg two overs later when the batsman was on 16.

Ghambir looked odds on to reach his century, his innings littered with 10 fours and an array of exquisite shots, but he could not keep an on-drive off Reza down and was caught at midwicket by Mashrafe Mortaza.

Raina suffered no such nerves, though, reaching 96 with a huge six and then tickling Razzak to the fine leg for four the next ball.

He and Singh then surged towards the total with ease.

Earlier, Alok Kapali hit his first ODI century as Bangladesh made a fine start.

He hit 10 fours and five sixes in his 113, after opener Tamin Iqbal had laid the foundations with an impressive 55.

Mohammad Nazimuddin fell in the fifth over to RP Singh but skipper Mohammed Ashraful joined Iqbal and the pair brought up the 50 inside 10 overs.

But Ashraful (20) drove Manpreet Gony to Pragyan Ojha at mid-off and, although Iqbal made 50 from 64 balls, he was caught behind in the 20th over off Ishant Sharma.

Spinner Ojha grabbed his first ODI wicket by bowling Raqibul Hasan (25) to leave Bangladesh wobbling on 120 for four.

This brought Kapali to the crease and he and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim shared an important stand of 49 before Rahim was out for 25, becoming Ojha’s second victim.

Kapali and Mahmadullah (21no) tried to increase the run-rate late on but the latter was dismissed off the penultimate ball and the total ultimately proved insufficient.