BSP-20 Tigers crash out of World Cup

861

ZCZC

BSP-20

CRICKET-BD-IND-MATCH-REPORT

Tigers crash out of World Cup

DHAKA, July 2, 2019 (BSS)-Bangladesh crashed out of the World Cup after a middling performance that saw them concede a 28-run loss to India in their must-win game at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Tuesday.

Having restricted India to 314-9, at least 30 runs less than what the men in blue expected; Bangladesh came up with out-of-sort and jaded batting performance to be bundled out for 286 in 48 overs.

Rohit Sharma, survived from a regulation catch on 9, struck 92-ball 104, his fourth century in the tournament and KL Rahul scored 77 to set such a target for Bangladesh which was never easy on an increasingly deteriorating pitch.

India bowlers complemented their performance with disciplined bowling with Jasprit Bumrah (4-55) and Hardik Pandya (3-60) to the fore to help the side move into the semifinal as the second team after Australia.

And thereby Bangladesh’s semifinal hope was ended even before their last game against Pakistan at Lord’s on July 5.

The only consolation for Bangladesh was Shakib Al Hasan’s yet another 50 plus knock, his sixth in seven matches and Mustafizur Rahman’s 5-59, his fourth and third five-for against India, that actually gave Tigers a slim hope, considering that they so far gunned down 320 plus total twice in World Cup history. The latest came against West Indies just a couple of weeks ago, when they chased 322 runs target with utmost ease.

Shakib Al Hasan continued his tremendous form and kept the chase going till 34th over, before Hardik Pandya dismissed him with an off-cutter to bring an end to his 74 ball-66 runs knock. His dismissal left Bangladesh 179-6 in 33.5 overs and effectively ended Bangladesh’s hope to win the game.

But Saifuddin Ahmed with his maiden World Cup fifty a 38-ball 51 not out kept the crazy Bangladeshi fans interested until Bumrah unleashed to perfect yorker to rattle the stump of Rubel Hossain (9) and Mustafizur Rahman (0) in consecutive deliveries to wrap up the Tigers innings.

Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar began cautiously, knowing that a good partnership could give them a confidence even if the pitch showed definite sing of wear and tear.

Mohammed Shami made the breakthrough, having rattled Tamim’s stump before he scored 22 in his 200th ODI.

Soumya, looked set on crease, played a loose shot off Pandya to throw his wicket when he was on 33.

Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim took the onus to repair and played such beautifully that Bangladesh’s hope was revived.

When match seemed to be in Bangladesh’s grip, Mushfiqur’s conventional sweep off Yuzvendra Chahal brought his dismissal as he was on 24.

Pandya then made killer blow, taking out Liton Das (21) and Shakib Al Hasan before Jasprit Bumrah removed Mosaddek Hossain (3), forcing Bangladesh loss three wickets for 17 runs. By doing so India completely took the control of match.

Sabbir Rahman and Saifuddin counterattacked in style to make India bowlers disarray to some extent but India was always ahead after Shakib’s dismissal.

As India opted to bat first, they were helped by Bangladesh’s mediocre fielding. The Tigers effectively could restrict India below 300 had Tamim Iqbal not shelled a regulation catch of Rohit Sharma at deep square leg when he was on 9.

Rohit made Bangladesh pay the price heavily for dropping him, hitting his fourth century in the tournament. By the time when Soumya Sarkar removed him, he struck a tremendous 104 off 92 with seven fours and five sixes. His dismissal brought an end to the 180-run partnership.

Rishab Pant made 48 off 41 while MS Dhoni scored 35 off 33 to keep the things going in middle overs.

Bangladesh like other teams knew the template to how to strangle India. They knew once they would take out India’s top three batsmen, they would crumble under pressure.

And the Tigers got that golden opportunity in just fourth over but they squandered the chance to allow India do the carnage.

However, Mustafizur brought back Bangladesh in contention with double-wicket maiden in the 39th over, taking out Virat Kohli (26) and Hardik Pandya (0). That effectively ended India’s hope to get past 350 plus total.

Mustafizur then lived up to his reputation as good death over bowler and brought up an intriguing show of cutter and slower to stifle India’s batsmen. It was his first five-for against India after his landmark debut series against the same team when he won Bangladesh consecutive two matches with two straight five-for and six-for.

But as the pitch showed definite sign of wear and tear, it was always an uphill task to achieve for the Tigers.

BSS/SMP/MMA/2346hrs