An explosive first wicket partnership between skipper
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, followed by Virat Kohli’s 48th ODI ton sealed
India a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in their ICC Cricket World Cup match
at Pune on Thursday.
With four wins in four matches, India is at the second
spot in the points table with eight points. New Zealand is at the top with a
better net-run-rate. Bangladesh is at the seventh spot with one win and three
losses.
In the chase of 257, India started off brilliantly,
with openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill seeing off any powerplay threats by
Bangladesh.
Fifty runs were up for India in just nine overs.
At the end of the first powerplay, India was at 63/0,
with Gill (26*) and Rohit (37*) unbeaten. Gill had smacked Nasum Ahmed for two
sixes in the same over.
Shubman continued to pick up speed, smashing
Mustafizur Ahmed for three fours in the next over.
Hasan Mahmud picked the prized scalp of skipper Rohit
for 48 in 40 balls, with seven fours and two sixes. India was 88/1 in 12.4 overs
after Rohit was caught by Towhid Hridoy at deep square leg while attempting his
signature pull shot.
After some extra runs via no ball and Virat Kohli
making full use of free hits, 100-run was up for India in 12.5 overs.
Gill reached his first WC fifty in 52 balls, with five
fours and two sixes. He was soon dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 53 off 55
balls, after being caught by Mahmadullah. India was 132/2 in 19.2 overs.
Following this, Shreyas Iyer and Virat took the
innings forward. 150-run mark was up for India in 22.4 overs.
Virat reached his third fifty of WC 2023 in 48 balls,
with four boundaries and a six.
The pairing of Mahmadullah-Miraz once again ended a
budding partnership, removing Iyer for 19 after he was caught by the former at
deep midwicket. India was 178/3 in 29.1 overs.
KL Rahul and Virat took India to the 200-run mark in
33.3 overs.
Virat sealed his 48th ODI ton, 78th international ton
and India’s win with a six, finishing at 261/3 in 41.3 overs.
Mehidy took two wickets for Bangladesh, Hasan got one.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s explosive start was eclipsed by
India’s clinical bowling as they set a target of 257 in the ongoing World Cup
on Thursday at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
Bangladesh openers Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das were
dominating the powerplay, pulling off some well-timed shots to find boundaries
on a surface that was assisting batters.
They managed to put up a score of 90-0 in the first 14
overs with a healthy run rate. Drinks were called and after the resumption of
the match, India completely turned the tides in their favour.
But before Bangladesh’s downfall commenced, Hardik
Pandya injured himself and walked off the field.
Pandya came to bowl his first over of the game in the
ninth over and was smashed for two successive fours in the second and third
deliveries by Litton Das.
While attempting to stop the second four, Pandya tried
to use his right leg to stop the ball but slipped and twisted his ankle.
Kuldeep Yadav resumed the innings and on the fourth
ball after the game dismissed Tanzid Hasan for 51. A flipper did the trick as
Hasan failed to read the ball, tried to go for a sweep but couldn’t read the
line as the ball struck the pads right in front of the wickets.
Najmul Hossain Shanto came in to avoid further loss of
wickets, both batters looked comfortable until the 20th over. Jadeja got better
off Shanto to end his day for a score of 8.
Mohammed Siraj claimed Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s wicket
with KL Rahul taking a stunner behind the stumps showcasing India’s prowess in
the field.
Jadeja claimed his second by removing set batter
Litton Das for 66. In the next 10 overs, Towhid Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim
stabalised Bangladesh’s innings. Shardul Thakur ended the dangerous-looking
partnership by claiming Hridoy’s (16) wicket who was struggling for rhythm.
Jaspri Bumrah decided to join the party by dismissing
Mushfiqur (38) with a moment of brilliance in the field as Jadeja took an
unbelievable catch.
Mahmudullah took on Shardul to claim 15 runs in the
46th over and push Bangladesh towards a score of 260.
However, a pinpoint yorker in the final over from
Bumrah ended his stay on the pitch as he walked back with a score of 46.
Shoriful Islam struck a six in the final ball to take
Bangladesh’s score to 256.
Brief Score: Bangladesh 256/8 (Litton Das 66, Tanzid
Hasan 51; Ravindra Jadeja 2-38) vs India.
ANI
