India qualified for the World Cup semifinal after a thrilling 28-run victory over Bangladesh in a league clash at Edgbaston here on Tuesday. The Men in Blue scored 314 for nine and bowled out Bangladesh for 286 in 48 overs. With 13 points in their kitty, Virat Kohli’s men moved closer to table-topper Australia (14), while Bangladesh crashed out.
At a venue abuzz with Indian fans thumping their drums and Bangladeshi followers holding onto their oversized tiger dolls, the final roar belonged to Kohli’s men. The much-needed win found its initial base when the Indian skipper opted to take first strike and found his rewards as Rohit Sharma scored his fourth hundred (104) in this World Cup.
The opener and his partner K.L. Rahul (77) added 180 for the first wicket and that, along with Rishabh Pant’s fluent 48, helped India go past 300 despite a stutter in the closing stages.
Rohit’s was a knock to savour, rich in shots that lesser mortals can never play, and as always it was dished out in his laconic style.
Bangladesh struggled all through, constantly losing wickets and was always well behind the required run-rate. Its hopes rested on Shakib Al Hasan but the southpaw’s 66 and Mohd. Saifuddin’s unbeaten 51 proved to be pockets of futile resistance. For India, Jasprit Bumrah bagged four wickets and Hardik Pandya three.
Published - July 02, 2019 10:49 pm IST
