Mahendra Singh Dhoni led from the front with a crafty unbeaten 101 as India recovered from early jolt to register comprehensive six-wicket win over Bangladesh in the third match of the cricket tri-series in Mirpur on Thursday night.
Chasing 297 for victory under lights, India were precariously placed at 51 for three before Dhoni combined with Virat Kohli (91) and Suresh Raina (51 not out off 43) to steer the team to victory with 15 balls to spare.
Dhoni not only notnched up his seventh ODI century but paced his innings brilliantly to share a 152-run foruth wicket stand with Kohli to put India on course of the victory.
Dhoni, who was let off on 61 and struck nine fours in his 107-ball knock, got admirable support from young Kohli, who hit seven fours during his 102-ball knock.
India, however, were dealt with some early blows by the Bangladeshi bowlers as openers Gautam Gambhir (18), Virender Sehwag (1) and Yuvraj Singh (1) all feel cheaply inside the first nine overs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Suresh Raina, who hit five fours and a six during his unbeaten knock, hit the winning runs a boundary to take India to 297 for four to the stunned silence of 25,000-odd Bangladesh supporters.
Young Kohli, who hit his fourth ODI fifty in his 17th match, was unlucky to miss out on his second hundred by nine runs as he was caught and bowled by Bangladesh captain Sakib al Hasan in the 35th over. PTI
