India Advances Towards Semifinals with Victory Over Bangladesh

India took a significant step towards semifinal qualification with a 50-run victory over Bangladesh in their ICC T20 World Cup Super Eights clash at Antigua on Saturday. Hardik Pandya’s all-round performance and Kuldeep Yadav’s devastating spell were the highlights of the match.

India now leads the Group 1 points table with two wins from two games and is set to face second-placed Australia on June 24. Bangladesh, with two losses, is at the bottom and out of the semifinal race.

In their chase of 197 runs, Bangladesh started strong with Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das displaying positive intent. Tanzid targeted Arshdeep Singh, while Litton dominated Axar Patel’s spin. Their 35-run partnership ended when Hardik Pandya dismissed Litton for 13 off 10 balls, with Suryakumar Yadav taking a fine catch at square leg. By the end of the powerplay, Bangladesh was 42/1.

Bangladesh reached the 50-run mark in 7.5 overs. A promising partnership between Tanzid and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto was cut short by Kuldeep Yadav, who trapped Shanto leg-before-wicket for 29 off 31 balls. Bangladesh was 66/2 in 9.4 overs.

At the halfway point, Bangladesh was 67/2 with Towhid Hridoy (1*) and Shanto (21*) at the crease. Despite Shanto hitting Pandya for two sixes in the ninth over, Kuldeep struck again, trapping Hridoy lbw for just four runs. Bangladesh was 76/3 in 11.1 overs.

Shanto and Shakib al Hasan then tried to revive the chase, but Kuldeep struck for the third time, dismissing Shakib for 11 off seven balls with a catch to Rohit Sharma. Bangladesh was 98/4 in 13.3 overs and reached the 100-run mark in 14 overs. Jasprit Bumrah took the crucial wicket of Shanto for 40 off 32 balls, with Arshdeep Singh taking a fine catch. Bangladesh was 109/5 in 15.3 overs, needing 88 runs to win.

In the final overs, pacers Arshdeep and Bumrah took charge. Arshdeep dismissed Jaker Ali for one run, assisted by Virat Kohli, while Bumrah removed Rishad Hossain (24 off 10 balls) with a catch from Rohit Sharma. Bangladesh ended their innings at 146/8 in 20 overs, with Mahedi Hasan (5*) and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (1*) unbeaten.

Kuldeep (3/19) was the top wicket-taker for India, while Bumrah (2/13) and Arshdeep (2/30) also bowled well. Pandya also took a wicket.

Earlier, Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten fifty guided India to 196/5 against Bangladesh in their second match of the Super 8s of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and opted to field.

After the skipper’s wicket, Rishabh Pant came to the crease. India reached fifty runs as Virat Kohli hit a maximum off left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman in the sixth over. India lost two wickets in the ninth over when Tanzim Hasan Sakib dismissed former skipper Kohli (37 off 28 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (6 off 2 balls). India’s score was 77/3 in 8.3 overs.

The Rohit Sharma-led team reached the 100-run mark in 11.2 overs as Pant hit a six off leg-spinner Rishad Hossain. Pant was dismissed for 36 off 24 balls in the 12th over, with four boundaries and two sixes. India reached 150 runs in the 17th over. Shivam Dube scored 34 off 24 balls with three sixes before being dismissed.

Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten 50 off 27 balls included four fours and three sixes. For Bangladesh, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Rishad Hossain took two wickets each, while Shakib Al Hasan took one.

Brief Score: India 196/5 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 50*, Virat Kohli 37, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 2/32) beat Bangladesh 146/8 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 40, Tanzid Hasan 29, Kuldeep Yadav 3/19).