Mirpur, February 19
India started their World Cup campaign with a bang as they defeated Bangladesh by 87 runs in the opening match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here today.

TODAY’S MATCHES

Live on Star Cricket Kenya vs New Zealand Chennai 9:30 am

Sri Lanka vs Canada Hambantota 2 pm

Put into bat, India posted a mammoth 370 for 4, with opening batsman Virender Sehwag scoring a cavalier 175 and Virat Kohli remaining unbeaten with 100.

Virender Sehwag unleashed a merciless assault on the hapless Bangladeshi bowlers to notch up his 14th ODI century with a breathtaking array of strokes. Kohli completed his century on the penultimate ball of the innings.

Indian cricketers celebrate the dismissal of Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan at The Sher-e Bangla Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday. India won by 87 runs. — AFP

In reply, Bangladesh scored 283 for nine in their 50 overs. Munaf Patel was the most successful bowler with figures of 4 for 48 from his ten overs.

Kohli had his moment of glory in the run deluge by hitting his fifth ODI century as the Delhi duo stitched a rollicking 203 runs for the third wicket on a placid track.

It was a virtual carnage as Sehwag, who defied cramps and batted with a runner after completing his century, and Kohli gave a stunning exhibition of strokeplay to leave the hosts in a daze.

Sehwag hammered as many as 14 boundaries and five sixes during his 140-ball 175 while Kohli's unbeaten 83-ball 100 contained eigth boundaries and two sixes.

Virat Kohli kisses his helmet after completing his century during the Group B match against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Saturday. — Reuters

Sachin Tendulkar (28) and Gautam Gambhir (39) got the starts but could not capitalise on it, though Tendulkar was distinctly unlucky to be run out.

Sehwag set the tempo by spanking the very first ball off paceman Shafiul Islam through cover to the boundary to begin the innings on a rousing note. He also clobbered the last ball to the boundary as the first over yielded 12 runs.

His opening partner Tendulkar was run out after scoring 28 runs.

Day in stats

India's 370 is the highest team total in a World Cup opener, going past England's 334 in the 1975 World Cup.

Virender Sehwag's 175 is the highest individual score in the opening game of the World Cup, going past Glenn Turner's 171 in the first World Cup.

Sehwag's 175 is the highest score by an Indian batsman against Bangladesh and also the highest score in an ODI in Bangladesh.

The 203-run stand between Sehwag and Kohli is the fifth 200-plus partnership for India in World Cups. Sehwag has been involved in two of them.

This is only the fourth time in 223 ODI innings, and the first time in more than seven years, that Sehwag has played more than 110 deliveries in an innings.

After Sehwag completed his century, both batsmen opted for the batting powerplay and virtually plundered runs at will, picking up Shafiul Islam for special treatment by clobbering him for 18 runs in one over. Abdur Razzak also came in for a battering as Sehwag smashed him for two boundaries and a six in one over to accelerate the pace of scoring.

While Sehwag unleashed his strokes, Kohli played orthodox shots at the other end and completed his 13th ODI half century by taking a single off Rubel Hossain. Sehwag created many batting records during his scintillating knock.

It was the highest score by an Indian batsman against Bangladesh, going past Sourav Ganguly's 135 in 2000 and he also surpassed Tendulkar's 141 which till date was the highest individual score in ODIs in Bangladesh. Sehwag fell at the same score that the legendary Kapil Dev had made 28 years ago. — PTI