Kohli slams maiden World Cup half-century as India make merry

Virat Kohli slammed his maiden World Cup half-century as Indian batsmen set themselves up for a massive score in their World Cup opener against Bangladesh at Mirpur

 

Mirpur: Feb 19, 2011

 

By CricketCountry Staff

 

Latest Score: India 301/2 in 42 overs

 

Virat Kohli slammed his maiden World Cup half-century as Indian batsmen set themselves up for a massive score in their World Cup opener against Bangladesh at Mirpur.

 

Kohil brought up his fifty off 46 balls, studded with five boundaries, raising a century partnership for the third wicket with Virender Sehwag as the Bangladesh bowlers were annihilated at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

 

Earlier, Virender Sehwag slammed a blistering century off 94 balls as India looked poised to set a huge score in the World Cup opener against Bangladesh at Mirpur.

 

Sehwag towered over the Bangladesh bowlers, hitting them to all parts of the Shere Bangla National Stadium to give just the kind of momentum India needed at the top of the order.

 

He brought up his 14th ODI century and his second in the World Cup with – Sehwag signalled his intent from the word go, punishing the Bangladesh opening bowlers Shafiul Islam Rubel Hossain as India rattled along to 36 in the first four overs.

 

His dominance over the opening bowlers was such that Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan was forced to bring left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak into the attack in the fifth over to stem the flow of runs.

Sehwag was kept quiet by Razzak in his first over before he continued to keep the runs flowing of the other bowlers.

 

He raised an opening stand of 69 with Sachin Tendulkar before the maestro was run out for 28 following a horrible mix-up. Tendulkar had worked the ball to wide off mid-on but much to his dismay Sehwag did not respond as Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan stationed at mid-wicket, dived and intercepted the ball and hurled it to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim who did the rest.

 

Sehwag was unperturbed by the run out dismissal and continued to blaze away, smacking a six off Shafiul to bring up his half-century.

 

Brief score: India: 301 for 2 in 42.1 overs (Virender Sehwag 152 batting, Virat Kohli 67 batting Gautam Gambhir 39) vs Bangladesh.

 

Pictures © Getty Images

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