Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina hit aggressive hundreds to lead India to a huge 256-run win over Hong Kong in their Asia Cup Group B match on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old Raina compiled a 68-ball 101 for his maiden century, while Dhoni notched an unbeaten 96-ball 109 as both shared a rapid-fire 166-run fourth wicket stand to shot India to the highest Asia Cup total of 374-4.
Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla then spun Hong Kong with figures of 4-23 as the minnows were bundled out for a paltry 118 in 36.5 overs.
PHOTO: AFP
India were to meet Pakistan yesterday to decide who tops the Group. Pakistan beat Hong Kong by 155 runs.
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates are placed in Group A. The top two teams qualify for the Super League stages in which all teams play each other once to decide July 6 finalists.
It was an expectedly one-sided affair as Hong Kong were no match for a superior India who completely dominated the match.
Hong Kong never posed any trouble for their stronger opponents as only Irfan Ahmed (25), Jamie Atkinson (23) and Tabarak Dar (21) offered a little resistance.
Dhoni was delighted with his team’s performance.
“You have to be ruthless no matter who you play,” Dhoni said. “Everything clicked for us, Raina batted superbly and we played like we should.”
Earlier, it was the Indian batsmen led by Raina and Dhoni who enjoyed a run feast.
Both were on the rampage, hitting the hapless Hong Kong bowlers to all corners of the park during their brisk 123-ball stand.
Raina reached his second fifty off just 16 deliveries, smashing five sixes and three boundaries in the process.
He hit three of those sixes off paceman Skhawat Ali before hitting another off Irfan to reach his first one-day international hundred off just 66 balls.
In all he hit seven boundaries and five towering sixes before he miscued a lofted shot off Afzaal Haider in the 46th over.
After Raina left, Dhoni needed little time to take over. He completed his fourth one-day hundred off 90 balls. Dhoni hit six boundaries and six sixes during his innings.
Raina and Dhoni built on the platform provided by a fiery opening stand of 127 by Virendar Sehwag (78) and Gautum Gambhir (51) who also thrashed the inexperienced Hong Kong bowling.
Sehwag smashed 13 boundaries and two sixes during his 44-ball knock, while Gambhir hit seven boundaries in his 54-ball knock.
Hong Kong dismissed Sehwag, Gambhir and Rohit Sharma (11) within the space of 32 runs but their joy was short-lived as they ran into Raina and Dhoni.
Hong Kong captain Tabark Dar said they were always in trouble against their stronger opponents.
“We were in a catch up situation all the time. The pitch had nothing for bowlers and once they scored so many runs we were under trouble,” Dar said.
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