Dubai: A cramping Towhid Hridoy smashed a dogged maiden ODI hundred but the bowling attack led by Mohammed Shami's five-wicket haul helped India to keep Bangladesh to a below-par 228 run total in their 2025 Champions Trophy opener at Dubai Cricket Stadium here on Thursday, February 20.
Hridoy (100 runs off 118 balls) and an equally gutsy Jaker Ali added 154 runs for the sixth-wicket stand to give Bangladesh a chance to have a crack after they were dragged down to 35 for 5. This was also the highest partnership (154) for the 6th wicket or below in the Champions Trophy history. Shami also eased a lot of worries over the absence of injured pace ace Jasprit Bumrah with a five-for-53 for 53 effort, continuing his love affair with ICC events. In the process, Shami became the fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 ODI wickets, the highest wicket-taker for India in ICC ODI events, going past former pacer Zaheer Khan (59). With the fifer in the innings, he also became the first pacer from India to take a five-wicket haul in the Champions Trophy.
Hridoy's innings were an example of how to construct an innings yet maintain a healthy run rate as he reached the milestone in just 114 balls.,
He and Ali also showed excellent composure under pressure.
However, both the Bangladesh batters benefited from the largesse of Indian fielders, as Ali was dropped on zero off the first ball by captain Rohit Sharma he faced off left-arm spinner Axar Patel (2/43). It also robbed Axar of a hat-trick after he dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim and Tanzid Hasan off successive deliveries.