India through to final defeating Bangladesh by 17 runs
HERO NIDAHAS TROPHY T20 TRIANGULAR
India defeated Bangladesh by 17 runs yesterday to enter the final of the Hero Nidahas T20 Triangular Tournament at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Put into bat, India totaled 176 for 3 wickets in 20 overs and restricted Bangladesh to 159 for 6 in 20 overs.
India’s innings revolved around a captains knock of 89 by Rohit Sharma off 61 balls as he rode back to form from a lean run to put his side in command for a semi-final berth with 6 points. He struck 5 boundaries and 5 sixes in his hammer and tong innings leading from the front. Sharma put on 70 for the first wicket in 9.5 overs with Shikhar Dhawan who scored 35 off 27 inclusive of 5 boundaries and a six.
The most productive partnership was between Sharma and Suresh Raina who posted 102 for the second wicket off 9 overs. Dhawan was bowled by Rubel Hossain. Raina made 47 off 30 balls containing 5 boundaries and 2 sixes. Raina was next out caught by Soumya Sarkar in the first ball of the 20th over giving Rubel Hossain his second wicket. Sharma exited run out by a throw by Hossain while Dinesh Karthik was unbeaten on 2.
Bangladesh failed to repeat the run momentuetm that took them to a big win over Sri Lanka on Monday. Wickets fell at regular intervals with paceman Washington Sundar accounting for the top three batsmen. He sent back Liton Das for 7 with the total on 12 and clean bowled Soumya Sarkar for 1 making it 35 for 2 wic kets. He then also rattled the stumps of Tamim Iqbal and Bangladesh was in trouble at 40 for 3 in 5.4 overs. It became 61 for 4 with M. Mahmudullah falling for 11.
But resistance came from the inform Mushfiqur Rahim who struck and unbeaten 72 off 55 balls packed with 8 boundaries and a six as Bangladesh recovered to 126 for 5 in 16.4 overs. He added 65 for the fifth wicket with Sabbir Rahman who made 27. Eventually Rahman lacked support to carry the innings.
Washington Sundar claimed 3 for 22.
By Srian Obeyesekere
-The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sri Lanka Cricket-
