Internet Desk: India pulled of an incredible 1 run victory over Bangladesh in a thrilling group league encounter of the ICC World T20 in Bengaluru. Batting first, India scored 146/7 with Suresh Raina contributing 30 and Shikhar Dhawan scored 23.
In reply, Bangladesh looked well on course to win with 2 runs required off 3 balls. But Hardik Pandya was the man of the moment as he took the crucial wickets of Musfiqur and Mahmudullah before Dhoni got Hom run out. Bangladesh ended up scoring 145/9 thereby losing the match by 1 run. Ravichandran Ashwin was adjudged the Man of the Match .
Indian skipper affected the crucial run out, who took his right gloves off when Hardik Pandya came in to bowl the last delivery with two runs required. Pandya bowled a fuller delivery wide off Shuvagato Hom who missed it and Dhoni caught it with only his inners on.
As Mustafizur started sprinting from the other end, the Indian skipper beat his younger opponent in a short sprint to whip off the bails to lead to an unbelievable finish as the entire Chinnaswamy Stadium erupted in joy.
The fans were gifted a perfect Holi gift by the Indian team, who now have four points and are up in the second position in the table with a match left.
Credit should also be given to Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled six magnificent deliveries in the penultimate over when Bangladesh needed only 17 off 12 balls.
When Hardik Pandya (2/29) was handed the ball, pacers Ashish Nehra, Bumrah, and spinners Ravindra Jadeja (2/22) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/20 in 4 overs) had already finished their quota and Dhoni was hardpressed to choose his options.
The dangerous Mahmudullah got one off Pandya’s first delivery and Mushfiqur Rahim smacked the next through covers for a boundary bring the equation down to 6 from four balls.
To everyone’s horror Rahim then played half scoop off the next ball on the pads which was just out of Dhoni’s reach as the equation became 2 off 3 balls. Off the next ball, Rahim mistimed a pull shot to get out as it became 2 off 2 balls.
With Mahmudullah on strike, he too mistimed a pull off another full toss which was pouched brilliantly by India’s best fielder Jadeja.
With 1 needed for tie and 2 to win, it was the inspirational Dhoni, who brought smiles with his daredevilry and innovative thinking.
India had a poor day on the field with Jasprit Bumrah spilling off a simple opportunity to get rid off Tamim on 15 runs after the left hander miscued a sweep shot off Ashwin.
Ashwin was brought into the attack in the third over and he got Mithun Ali (1) with third delivery. The batsmen jumped out at a delivery that was dropped short but did not get the required power or elevation to clear Hardik Pandya at long-on.
Bumrah was then smashed for 16 runs as if to add insult to the injury. First a slash through the point and then lofted over mid-on, followed by a deliberate thickish edge through third-man and a rasping cover drive.
It was a shooter from Ravindra Jadeja that kept low as Tamim (35, 32 balls) gave the charge to miss it with Dhoni completing the easiest of stumpings.
Sabbir (26) was batting well but a moment’s indiscretion off a wide Raina delivery saw Dhoni effect a smart stumping (which was certainly the turning point in the game).
Surprising everyone, Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza promoted himself up the batting order ahead of Mahmudullah Riyadh . Mashrafe hoisted Raina for a straight six. In the next Pandya over, Shakib slashed one at deep point and Ashwin dropped a relatively easy catch.
Mashrafe’s bravado did not last long as he was bowled in Jadeja’s next over leaving Bangladesh at 87 for four with visions of a comeback.
But Shakib (22, 2×6)very much kept Bangladesh in the match with sixes each off Pandya and Jadeja as Indian fielders began to look tense. Ashwin did made amends for the dropped catch with a nice drifter of a delivery that spun enough to take the edge off Shakib as Raina took a simple catch at slips.
Earlier, India’s much vaunted batting line-up struggled on a slow and sluggish track as they just about managed an unimpressive 146/7 against a disciplined Bangladesh attack after being put into bat.
Almost all the Indian batsmen struggled on a track where the ball was not coming onto the bat and Bangladeshi slow bowlers made it even more difficult with their controlled line and length bowling.
Suresh Raina (30 off 23 balls) with a boundary and two sixes was the top-scorer but the contribution was not enough looking at the total posted by the hosts.
Shikhar Dhawan (23), Virat Kohli (24) spent considerable time at the wicket but could never force the pace.
Hardik Pandya (15) was showing positive signs before a Soumya Sarkar stunner in the deep ended what could have been an impactful innings. Yuvraj Singh (3) failed to gauge the pace of the wicket while skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (13 no off 12 balls) concentrated on the singles and doubles.
India next meet Austalia in their last Group League encounter.
Brief Scores:
India 146/7 (Suresh Raina 30, Shikhar Dhawan 23, Mustafizur Rahaman 2/34, Al Amin 2/37) Bangladesh 145/9 (Tamim Iqbal 35, Shakib Al Hasan 22, Sabbir Rahaman 26, Soumya Sarkar 21, R Ashwin 2/20,Ravindra Jadeja 2/22).