T20 World Cup: India inch closer to semi-finals after nervy win over Bangladesh | Cricket News

ADELAIDE: A piece of pure brilliance on the field by a rejuvenated KL Rahul and divine intervention by the weather gods brought India a step closer to the T20 World Cup semi-finals with a five-run win over Bangladesh in a rain-curtailed contest on Wednesday.
With an impressive total of 184 for 6 courtesy Virat Kohli (64 not out off 44) and KL Rahul (50 off 32), India took little notice of what they were about to hit in the form of Litton Das (60 from 27 balls).
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Needing 151 in 16 overs as per the revised target after a brief spell of rain, Bangladesh eventually made 145/6. India, who now have six points from four matches, will need to beat Zimbabwe in their final Super-12 match to clinch a last four spot.
Need 20 down last ear, young Arshdeep Singh showed ice-cold temperament even as Nurul Hasan hit him for a six and a four as he bowled some perfect yorker-length deliveries to clinch the tie.
Just as Bangladesh were racing along at 66 for no loss in 7 overs, the heavens opened much to the delight of the Bangladeshi fans and their biased media.

(AP Photo)
After the forced break, the revised target by DLS method required Bangladesh to score 85 from 54 balls. The break did affect their momentum as Rahul produced a run-out that would be part of any highlights package with the direct throw to deep mid-wicket getting rid of Litton.
Just like what happened with Mohammed Nawaz in the Asia Cup, India’s coaching staff had no plans for Litton, who played smartly for the rain.

After a quiet first over by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the next over by Arshdeep saw the right-hander repeatedly step on the wicket and try to negate any swing on offer.
In the next few overs, he was all over Arshdeep and Bhuvneshwar as he converted good length deliveries into overs and took it over the infield. It was one of the best T20I fifties for Bangladesh, off just 21 balls.

AFP photo)
Litton played cover drives, pulled and hit sixes behind square leading the pace of the deliveries, leaving Rohit Sharma looking unfazed during the Powerplay overs that yielded 60 runs.
By the time it started raining, Bangladesh were 66 for no loss in seven overs with a 17-run advantage on DLS parity.
Once the target was reduced, Rahul’s inspiring fielding from the deep found Litton short of his ground at the non-striker’s end.
Shanto (21 from 25 balls) struggled to get timing for the best part before a mistimed deduction from Shami’s bowling found Suryakumar Yadav at wide.

As two wickets fell in quick succession, the damp outfield due to rain made it difficult to grip the ball as Shakib Al Hasan launched into Ravichandran Ashwin for a couple of boundaries.
But Arshdeep (2/38 in 4 overs) who came for his spell after the rain had the dangerous Afif Hossain caught by Surya and then captain Shakib was caught at deep mid-wicket by substitute fielder Deepak Hooda to turn the complexion of the match to change.
Hardik (2/28 in 3 overs) then removed Yasir Ali and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat in one over to seal the match.
Earlier, Kohli’s eternal love affair with the Adelaide Oval continued as he powered India to a strong total.

There were eight fours and a six in his 44-ball innings as none of the Bangladeshi bowlers had any answer to his excellent hitting.
The pitch was much slower compared to Perth and the Bangladesh bowling attack cracked under extreme pressure in the post-Powerplay overs as Rahul (50 off 31 balls) also returned to form with his first fifty of the tournament.
Kohli, on his way to his third half-century of the competition, had some useful stands – 67 for the second wicket with Rahul and 38 for the third wicket with Suryakumar Yadav (30 from 15 balls).
Shakib Al Hasan (2/33 in 4 overs) took the wickets of Rahul and Surya, but Taskin was undoubtedly the best bowler on display.
After facing a lot of criticism in the last three matches, Rahul has come into his element. He played his customary ‘pick-up pull-shot’, which is a sweep of the wrists behind square for a six.
With captain Rohit dismissed cheaply, Kohli eased the initial pressure put on by Taskin with some fleet-footed running between the wickets.
Rahul took 20 balls to score his first 21 runs, but once the Powerplay was done, he suddenly upped the ante as in one over from Shoriful, he hit a short-arm pull over deep mid-wicket and a backward slash for two maxima.
This ninth over from Shoriful yielded 24 runs and the pressure was completely relieved on the Indian batsmen.
Rahul’s next 29 runs came from 10 balls before his 31-ball 50 ended when an attempted round shot found the top and Mustafizur took a well-judged catch off captain Shakib’s bowling.
Kohli on the other hand hit a flurry of boundaries – a couple off Taskin, one off Mustafizur and the best of the lot – a copy book of the sequence that one can watch on loop as many times as one wants .
The stage was set for Suryakumar and he responded in style with a quick cameo before Shakib’s arm ball broke his defence.
However, Kohli continued to attack from one end to take India to an above par score.