NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Unbeaten powerhouses India inched even closer to a semi-final spot in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup when they brushed aside Bangladesh by 50 runs here Saturday.
Man-of-the-Match Hardik Pandya top-scored with a 27-ball unbeaten 50 as India marched to 196 for five off their 20 overs after being sent in at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in their second game of the Super Eights.
Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav then claimed three for 19 while new ball seamers Jasprit Bumrah (2-13) and Arshdeep Singh (2-30) picked up two wickets apiece, as Bangladesh were restricted to 146 for eight off their 20 overs.
Captain Najmul Hossain was the only batsman to provide resistance with 40 off 32 deliveries, as Bangladesh plunged to their second defeat of the second round.
“It’s essential to play every game; take every game as a normal game,” Kuldeep said afterward.
India’s total was built on a series of partnerships. Superstar Virat Kohli punched four and three sixes in 37 off 28 balls, posting 39 for the first with captain Rohit Sharma (23) and 32 for the second with Rishabh Pant (36).
The left-handed Pant, who belted four fours and two sixes in a 24-ball cameo, inspired a 31-run, fourth-wicket partnership with Shivan Dube (34), who in turn combined with Hardik in a 53-run, fifth-wicket alliance.
Hardik then struck four fours and three sixes to dominate a 35-run, unbroken sixth wicket stand with Axar Patel (three not out) to ensure the innings finished strongly.
Bangladesh’s reply started well, Tanzid Hasan (29) putting on 35 for the first wicket with Litton Das (13) and a further 31 for the second with Najmul, who counted four and three sixes.
But with the required run rate climbing, Najmul holed out to short third man off Bumrah in the 16th over, and his dismissal saw the chase peter out tamely.
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