Ton for Ashraful, win for Bangladesh

Lahore: Powered by captain Mohammad Ashraful's brisk 109, Bangladesh galloped to 300-8 in the Group A opener against the United Arab Emirates at the Gaddafi stadium here on Tuesday.

Powered by captain Mohammad Ashraful's brisk 109, Bangladesh galloped to 300-8 before ending an impressive challenge by the UAE, who batted 45.4 overs for their 204 all out.

1.Live Scorecard

2.Short Highlights

UAE last played official international cricket in the 2004 Asia Cup.

The UAE were never in the hunt of overhauling Bangladesh's massive total, but Khurram Khan's dogged 78 from 81 balls typified the minnows' resistance.

Fast bowlers Mashrafe Mortaza and Shahadat Hossain, and then spinner Abdur Razzak had UAE in all sorts of trouble when they reduced their opponents to 48-3 inside the first 10 overs, but Arshad Ali (41) and Khurram Khan delayed the inevitable with remarkable character.

Khurram Khan, who had nine boundaries in his entertaining knock, was the ninth man out to Abdur Razzak for his 100th ODI wicket, who finished as the winning team's best bowler with outstanding figures of 3-20 in his 10 overs.

Earlier, Bangladesh recovered from an early setback with a 95-run partnership between Tamim Iqbal (40) and Ashraful before the Bangladesh captain added 141 runs for the third wicket with Raqibul Hasan, who hammered 83 off just 63 balls, before UAE pulled them back with four quick wickets.

Bangladesh, who lost their last seven One-dayers including crushing defeats in the recently concluded Kitply Cup tri-series at home, didn't get off to the best of starts as opener Nazimuddin fell in the first over after Ashraful elected to bat.

However, Ashraful, along with the rest of the top order, got Bangladesh back with entertaining knocks coupled with slipshod fielding by UAE.

UAE last played official international cricket in the 2004 Asia Cup.

Teams:

Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Nazimuddin, Roqibul Hassan, Alok Kapali, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah Riyad, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzaq, Shahadat Hossain, Dolar Mahmud.

UAE: Saqib Ali (captain), Mohammad Tauqir, Arshad Ali, Khurram Khan, Zahid Shah, Amjad Javed, Shadeep Silva, Fahad Al Hashmi, Amjad Ali (wk), Indika Batuwitaarachichi, Vikrant Shetty.