India outclass Bangladesh to inch closer to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup

With the opportunity of bolstering their grip on the semis, Team India took the yard last night against Bangladesh and by the time they were done, the gateway for the final four was forced open.

Winning the toss at Antigua, Rohit Sharma opted to bat first. The Indian skipper wanted no separate invitation to start dashing and bashing already. Rohit looked good for his 11-ball-23 but eventually fell to Shakib Al Hasan in the fourth over.

Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli did continue the charge for India. The duo piled up 32 runs for the second wicket before Kohli fell for 37 against Tanzim Hasan Sakib. SKY couldn’t add much either despite a rollercoaster of a start with a maximum.

Pant looked good for his 36 while Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya showed the real intent thereafter. Dube (34) took over the early reins while Pandya anchored the other end. It was the final burst of brilliance from the Indian vice-captain that saw the Men in Blue piling up 196/5 at the end of 20 overs.

Pandya stayed unbeaten for a 27-ball-50 as India registered their highest score of the ongoing edition of the tournament. Tanzim Hasan and Rishad Hossain were the pick of the bowling lot for Bangladesh with two wickets each.

Bangladesh did get off to a flyer but Hardik Pandya’s introduction allowed India to apply the brakes to the scoring rate. Pandya claimed Liton Das for 13 but the Tigers managed to recuperate from the early pitfall as Tanzid Hasan (29) and their captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (40) managed to keep the ship afloat.

Kuldeep Yadav eventually rattled the partnership with the scalp of Tanzid Hasan and followed that up with another banger that removed Towhid Hridoy (4). Despite another dragged stand of resistance between Shanto and Shakib al Hasan, the asking rate got to the Tigers.

Kuldeep got a third in the form of Shakib (11) while Bumrah returned to claim Shanto. The fall of Shanto opened up the floodgates for Team India and they wasted no time in storming through.

Despite Rishad Hossain’s late lunge that saw him scoring 24 off 10, Bangladesh was never making it as the ask was exorbitant enough. India restricted their neighbours to 146, securing a 50-run win to ace Group A. Kuldeep Yadav was the lead act with three wickets while Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah claimed two wickets each. Pandya was adjudged the Player of the Match for a formidable all-round display.