Bangladesh stun India for consolation Asia Cup win

AFP | Colombo        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan’s 80 and inspired bowling led Bangladesh to a consolation six-run win over India in the final Super Four clash of the Asia Cup yesterday.

India, who had already booked a meeting with Sri Lanka in Sunday’s final in Colombo, faltered in their chase of 266 despite a valiant 121 by opener Shubman Gill.

Mustafizur Rahman took three wickets while debutant Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Mahedi Hasan claimed two each as Bangladesh bowled out India for 259 to end their tournament on a high ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup.

India rested their key players including Virat Kohli and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the inconsequential clash. Skipper Rohit Sharma elected to bowl first to test their batting under lights, which has been difficult in the Sri Lanka leg of the tournament hosted by Pakistan.

Bangladesh slipped to 59-4 before a 101-run stand between Shakib and Towhid Hridoy, who made 54, rebuild the innings and with lower-order contribution posted 265-8 in 50 overs.

Hridoy and Shakib hit back with regular boundaries before pace bowler Shardul Thakur returned for a second spell and got Shakib bowled. Ravindra Jadeja soon got his 200th ODI wicket, but Hridoy kept up the charge and reached his fifty with a boundary before falling to Shami.

Nasum Ahmed, a left-arm spinner who is known to slog with the bat, also contributed with 44 while Mahedi added 29. Thakur took three wickets while Shami returned figures of 2-32. In reply, India lost Rohit in the first over as he got caught out off Taskina, a 20-year-old fast bowler, who struck again to put India in trouble at 17-2.

Gill stood firm and put on key partnerships with KL Rahul (19) and then Suryakumar Yadav (26) but Bangladesh bowlers kept chipping away with wickets. Gill, who hit eight fours and five sixes in his 133-ball knock, reached his hundred off Tanzim and bowed to the dressing room.