India’s unbeaten run in the 2023 Asia Cup came to a rather unanticipated end, as they suffered a six-run defeat in the last Super Four contest against Bangladesh. Chasing a target of 266 runs, India were bowled out for 259 in 49.5 overs.
The finalists had the worst of starts, with their skipper Rohit Sharma – who had struck three consecutive half-centuries before this match – could not open his tally and had to depart for a duck, losing his wicket to debutant Tanzim Hasan Sakib in the first over.
The debutant from the Indian camp, Tilak Varma was not as influential as Tanzim, as he could only accumulate five runs before seeing his stumps being knocked down by an inswinger from the young speedster.
With the required run rate not being insurmountable, India required a partnership more than anything, which they got from Shubman Gill and KL Rahul – be it at a slow pace. The latter scored 19 runs from 39 deliveries, but as he was about to switch gears, an ill-fated flick brought his downfall.
Ishan Kishan’s audition for the number five role at the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup did not go according to plans, as his audacious switch hit attempt saw him getting trapped leg before wicket by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, after scoring only five runs.
Another batter who is auditioning for a role in the Indian playing XI, albeit from a lower standing in the pecking order, Suryakumar Yadav did a comparatively better job by scoring 26 runs, but he could not convert the start to a big knock either, with Shakib running through his sweep to get him clean bowled.
Ravindra Jadeja was the next in the queue to get bowled, this time off Mustafizur Rahman’s bowling, but Gill continued his solitary fight. In the very next over, the opening batter recorded his fifth ODI century, as he also is now the leading run-scorer in this format in 2023.
The exemplary knock eventually concluded in the 44th over, with Mahedi Hasan getting Gill’s wicket when the batter was on 121. Although Axar Patel’s 42-run knock took the game to the last over, he was dismissed by Rahman in the penultimate over, effectively securing the win for the Tigers.
Shakib, Hridoy and Tail-Enders Bail Bangladesh Out
Earlier, Returning to the playing XI after being dropped against Sri Lanka, Shardul Thakur picked up three crucial wickets to help his team restrict Bangladesh to a total of 265/8.
With their place in the final already secured, India made changes aplenty to the playing XI. Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj were all rested, with Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami and Prasidh Krishna getting into the team.
The boys in blue had an excellent start as in only the third over of the match, a brilliant in-swinger from Shami breached Litton Das’ defence to dismantle his stumps. An over later, Thakur replicated the same by dismissing Tanzid Hassan.
Veteran Bangladeshi batter Anamul Haque Bijoy, who was playing his first ODI match since December 2022, could not justify his selection, losing his wicket to a rash pull shot after scoring only four runs, with Thakur adding another scalp to his tally.
The all-rounder should have had his third wicket soon, but Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav dropped fairly easy chances to dismiss Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The latter, however, could not capitalise on the two opportunities he was handed, as he was dismissed by Axar Patel in the 14th over.
At 59/4, Bangladesh were headed towards what could have been an embarrassing all out, but skipper Shakib Al Hasan and youngster Towhid Hridoy stitched a resolute 101-run fifth-wicket stand.
In the 26th over of the match, Shakib brought up his 55th ODI half-century by dancing down the track and dispatching an Axar Patel delivery into the stands. At the second drinks break, Bangladesh’s score read 160/4.
Thakur, whose knack for breaking partnerships is well-documented, did his trick yet again by sending the opposition’s skipper back in only the first delivery after the resumption.
In the next over, Ravindra Jadeja trapped Shahim Hossain Patwary leg before wicket to put the pressure back on Bangladesh, while Towhid Hridoy’s endeavour finally ended in the 42nd over, but only after he had recorded his fifth half-century in this format.
Bangladesh’s innings, however, was far from being over, with the left-arm spinner playing the knock of his life. He scored 44 runs in 45 deliveries – his ODI career-highest – to help Bangladesh get to a total of 265 runs.
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