Rohit on song, crafty Sundar takes India to triseries final
NIDAHAS T20 Mushfiq fights lone battle, rest of Bangladesh batting capitulates chasing target of 177
COLOMBO: Rohit Sharma’s brilliant 89 and young spinner Washington Sundar’s spell of 3/22 helped India hold off a late charge by Mushfiqur Rahim (72*) to clinch a 17-run win over Bangladesh and enter the final of the Nidahas Trophy tri-series at the R Premadasa stadium.
Rahim had threatened to repeat his heroics against Sri Lanka where his 35-ball 72 had helped Bangladesh chase down 215. Rahim and Sabbir Rahman stitched a stand to revive Bangladesh after Washington Sundar put in another magnificent display to wreck the top order. India made 176 for three and restricted Bangladesh to 159/6.
SUNDAR STRIKES
Chasing 177, Bangladesh needed to get off to a flying start but Sundar struck in his first over and had Liton Das stumped for seven. Tamim Iqbal took the attack to the Indian bowlers by flaying Shardul Thakur for 19 runs in the third over, which included three fours and a six.
Sundar struck in his second over as Soumya Sarkar (1) missed a slog sweep. India were boosted by the wicket of Tamim (27) as the left-hander missed a lap sweep to be bowled by Sundar. When Yuzvendra Chahal removed Mahmudullah, the game was in India’s grasp.
Rahim started slowly but seized the opportunity in the 11th over bowled by paceman Mohammed Siraj by hammering two fours and a six. At the other end, Sabbir struck some big blows, including a pulled six off Chahal that landed in the stands over midwicket. The 65-run stand was broken when Sabbir missed an off-cutter from Shardul to be bowled for 27.
ROHIT SHINES
After Bangladesh chose to bowl, Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan took their opening partnership past 50 and it needed a brilliant outswinging yorker from Rubel Hossain to send the in-form Dhawan back for 35. Rohit was joined by Raina and the Indian skipper broke his seven-match poor run by hammering his 13th fifty. After reaching the landmark, he transformed into a six-hitting machine, hammering two sixes in the 18th over bowled by left-arm pacer Abu Nider.
In the process, Rohit became the leading six-hitter for India in T20s, going past Yuvraj Singh’s 74. Suresh Raina struck a blistering 47 off 30 balls and their 102-run stand was instrumental in India becoming the first team to successfully defend a total in this tournament.