In a thrilling encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Bangladesh managed to secure a nail-biting victory against India by a margin of just 6 runs. This Asia Cup Super-Four clash had fans on the edge of their seats as both teams showcased their skills and determination.
Bangladesh, after opting to bat first, faced early blows from the Indian bowlers. Mohammed Shami and Shardul Thakur removed Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan early in the innings, leaving Bangladesh struggling at 28/3 inside the power-play. However, their captain, Shakib Al Hasan, emerged as a beacon of hope for his team. Despite wickets falling at the other end, Shakib stood firm and played a captain’s knock, scoring a solid 80 off 85 balls.
Towhid Hridoy provided valuable support to Shakib, scoring a fine half-century with 54 runs to his name. The duo of Shakib and Hridoy stitched together a crucial 101-run partnership to push Bangladesh’s total beyond the 100-run mark. Shardul Thakur ended Shakib’s resilient innings in the 34th over, but the damage had been done.
Ravindra Jadeja also joined the wicket-taking party by removing Shamim Hossain, and in the process, he reached a significant milestone of 200 ODI wickets. Hridoy, who had brought up his half-century, was dismissed by Mohammed Shami in the 42nd over. Nasum Ahmed contributed with a valuable 44 runs towards the end, helping Bangladesh reach a competitive total of 265/8 in their allotted 50 overs.
Chasing a target of 266, India’s innings got off to a shaky start when Rohit Sharma fell early to a delivery outside off, caught by Anamul Haque. Shubman Gill and KL Rahul tried to steady the ship but found it challenging to score freely. Gill eventually found his rhythm, reaching a well-deserved century while holding the innings together.
However, wickets continued to fall at the other end. Suryakumar Yadav showed glimpses of his T20 brilliance with some stylish shots, but he fell victim to Shakib Al Hasan’s spin. KL Rahul’s struggle came to an end as well when he was dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The required run rate began to climb, and India found themselves in a precarious position.
Gill’s valiant effort came to an end when he was catch out for 121 runs. Despite his heroic century, the mounting pressure and the fall of wickets at the other end made it challenging for India to secure victory. With the target within reach, Axar Patel played a vital innings, scoring 42 runs and giving
India hope.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman took the crucial wicket of Axar Patel, swinging the match back in Bangladesh’s favor. Mohammed Shami and Prasidh Krishna were left with the daunting task of scoring 12 runs off the last over, bowled by Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
With the match on a knife’s edge, Bangladesh managed to hold their nerve and secure a memorable victory by just 6 runs. The fans witnessed a thrilling contest, showcasing the resilience and determination of both teams.