India crush Bangla by 77 runs, avoid whitewash

Mirpur: India earned a consolation 77-run win in the third one-day international against Bangladesh to avoid a whitewash in a three-match series in Dhaka on Wednesday.Spinners Suresh Raina (3-45) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-35) shared five wickets as Bangladesh, replying to India's 317-6, were shot out for 240 in 47 overs.

The defeat at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium ended Bangladesh's 10-match unbeaten run on home soil that began in November 2014. The home side claimed the series 2-1 despite the loss owing to their wins in the first two matches respectively by 79 runs and six wickets.

Set a mammoth target, Bangladesh suffered a blow when opener Tamim Iqbal was judged leg before for five in the second over off Dhawal Kulkarni.

Sabbir Rahman made the highest score for Bangladesh with 43 as the side lost a wicket whenever a partnership was developing.Soumya Sarkar (40), Litton Das (34), Nasir Hossain (32) Mushfiqur Rahim (24) and Shakib Al Hasan (20) were all guilty of throwing their wickets away.

Shakib bowled Virat Kohli for 25 to end his 75-run stand with Dhawan, who later became the victim of a stunning Nasir Hossain catch at short mid-wicket off Mortaza. Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu did not let the momentum slip as they put on 93 for the fourth wicket.

Rayudu was unlucky to miss out on his half-century when he was given out caught behind off Mortaza for 44. Replays suggested the ball hit only his thigh pad.Bangladesh managed to get rid of Dhoni before he became yet more dangerous when Mustafizur took a catch at deep midwicket off Mortaza.

Dhoni, who promoted himself to number four in the batting order for the second time in the series, faced 77 balls for his innings that included six fours and a six. Raina added a quick-fire 38 off 21 balls, helping India past the 300-run mark. Mustafizur bowled Raina to finish with 2-57 and take his tally to 13 in the series.