India inch nearer to semis after nervy win vs. Bangladesh

Reuters  — 

Inaugural champions India put a foot within the semifinals of the T20 World Cup following their nervy five-run victory in opposition to Bangladesh in a rain-hit Group 2 humdinger in Adelaide on Wednesday.

Virat Kohli made an unbeaten 64 to take care of his red-hot type and KL Rahul (50) ended his run drought as they fired India to a commanding 184-6 on the Adelaide Oval.

Chasing a revised goal of 151 in 16 overs following a rain interruption, Bangladesh regarded on track with Litton Das (60) going nice weapons however his exit unhinged his facet who finally completed on 145-6.

India moved to prime of Group 2 with six factors, one forward of South Africa who've performed one sport fewer.

“Shortened video games can go both means … however we held our nerves fairly properly when the sport began after the break,” India captain Rohit Sharma mentioned.

“Among the catches we took right this moment underneath stress, it was nice to observe.”

Put into bat, India didn't have the perfect of begins with Taskin Ahmed proving fairly a handful despite the fact that the seamer went wicketless.

Hasan Mahmud (3-47) dropped Rohit within the deep however nearly instantly made amends dismissing the batter for 2.

Kohli, who was adjudged player-of-the-match, didn't look convincing initially however was quickly in his parts, whereas Rahul additionally regarded in nice contact on the different finish.

With scores of 4,9,9 in his earlier three matches, Rahul was underneath stress to justify his choice and the opener responded by clubbing 4 sixes en path to a 31-ball fifty as India reached 86-2 on the midway stage.

Suryakumar Yadav performed a sometimes breezy 30 off 16 balls on a day he changed Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan because the top-ranked T20 batter.

Kohli accelerated within the penultimate over, registering his third fifty in 4 innings and in addition overtook Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene because the main run-getter within the historical past of the match.

Litton gave Bangladesh a rollicking begin scoring 56 of his crew’s 60 runs within the first six powerplay overs.

He raced to a 21-ball fifty earlier than rain halted play with Bangladesh on 66 for no loss after seven overs.

When play resumed with a revised goal, Das was crushed by Rahul’s direct throw from deep midwicket and it triggered a batting collapse.

Bangladesh wanted 20 from the final over from Arshdeep Singh and Nurul Hasan hit a six and a 4 however it was not sufficient ultimately.

“It’s been the story once we play India. We’re nearly there however we by no means cross the ending line,” Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan rued.

“It was an amazing sport, the gang loved and each groups loved.

“Ultimately somebody has to win and somebody has to lose.”

Earlier, Zimbabwe’s hopes of reaching the semifinals successfully evaporated following their five-wicket defeat by the Netherlands.

Zimbabwe had been all out for 117 in 19.2 with solely Sikander Raza (40) and Sean Williams (28) reaching double digits.

Max O’Dowd led Netherlands’ reply with 52 and Tom Cooper made 32 because the Dutch facet, who've already crashed out, registered their first Tremendous 12 win with two overs to spare.