KARACHI, June 29: Suresh Raina’s second century of the Asia Cup propelled India to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first Super Four encounter at the National Stadium here on Saturday night (also partly reported in Sunday’s edition).

Raina, the 21-year-old left-hander who had scored only three half-centuries in 39 One-day Internationals prior to this event, smashed an unconquered 116 off 107 balls as India romped home by making 284 for three with 40 deliveries to spare after a maiden ton from the dazzling bat of Alok Kapali (115), who had inspired Bangladesh to their highest ever total against the Indians.

But Raina and Gautam Gambhir (90) set up the run chase with ridicule ease, after profiting from missed opportunities from the butter-fingered Bangladeshis, as they put on 139 in just over 22 overs.

Gambhir ensured the run-rate was maintained as he brought up his half-century off 36 deliveries.

Bangladesh then let the Indians off the hook; first Gambhir (56) survived when Farhad Reza made complete mess of a relatively simple chance when the opener sliced Mashrafe Mortaza, who had come on at the University Road End, high in the air towards point.Mahmudullah then let the ball slip through his fingers when Raina, then on 16, top-edged a pull stroke in Mashrafe’s next over. Had those chances been availed, the script would, probably, have a different story to narrate.

Ironically, it was Mashrafe who showed his team-mates the way when he picked a neat, low catch at midwicket to terminate Gambhir’s 84-ball knock that included 10 boundaries and one six.

Yuvraj Singh (36 off 35 balls, two sixes and two fours) had enough time to play a series of full-blooded strokes and Raina ended the game with an unfinished stand of 89 in 70 balls. Raina, who had taken 93 deliveries to raise his hundred, blasted 11 fours and three sixes before scooping up the Man-of-the-Match award for the third time running.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH:

Tamim Iqbal c Dhoni b I. Sharma 55

Nazimuddin c Ojha b R.P. Singh 6

Mohammad Ashraful c Ojha b Gony 20

Raqibul Hasan b Ojha 25

Mushfiqur Rahim c Dhoni b Ojha 22

Alok Kapali c Ojha b Gony 115

Mahmudullah not out 26

Farhad Reza not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-5, W-9) 14

TOTAL (for six wkts, 50 overs) 283

FALL OF WKTS: 1-19, 2-66, 3-102, 4-120, 5-169, 6-281

DID NOT BAT: Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Shahadat Hossain.

BOWLING: R.P. Singh 10-1-65-1 (6w); Gony 8-0-65-2 (2w); I. Sharma 10-0-48-1; Ojha 10-0-43-2; Pathan 10-0-44-0 (1w); Yuvraj Singh 2-0-13-0.

INDIA:

G. Gambhir c Mashrafe b Farhad 90

R.V. Uthappa b Shahadat 2

R.G. Sharma c Farhad b Shahadat 22

S.K. Raina not out 116

Yuvraj Singh not out 36

EXTRAS (LB-11, W-7) 18

TOTAL (for three wkts, 43.2 overs) 284

FALL OF WKTS: 1-14, 2-56, 3-195

DID NOT BAT: M.S. Dhoni, Y.K. Pathan, R.P. Singh, I. Sharma, P.P. Ojha, M. Gony.

BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 9-0-55-0 (1w); Shahadat Hossain 9-0-60-2 (2w); Mahmudullah 6-0-35-0; Farhad Reza 6-0-38-1; Abdur Razzak 9.2-0-59-0 (3w); Alok Kapali 4-0-26-0 (1w).

RESULT: India won by seven wickets.

UMPIRES: B.G. Jerling (South Africa) and S.J.A. Taufel (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: M.G. Silva (Sri Lanka).

MATCH REFEREE: A.G. Hurst (Australia).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Suresh Raina.