Dubai, Sep 24:
Abhishek Sharma’s scintillating 75 was beautifully complemented by Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy as India comfortably hammered Bangladesh by 41 runs to enter the Asia Cup final here on Wednesday.
Despite a mediocre batting show that limited India to 168 for six in their second Super 4 match, Bangladesh’s batting never had the wherewithal to chase down a gettable total and were bowled out for 127 in 19.3 overs.
Thursday’s Super 4s game between Bangladesh and Pakistan is a ‘virtual semi-final’ and will decide India’s opponent in the summit clash. If Bangladesh’s batting show is any indicator, a third mouth-watering India versus Pakistan contest for the biggest continental prize is very much on the cards.
Opener Saif Hassan (69 off 51 balls) did his bit with some lusty hitting but most of the other batters failed to even reach double digits. Having said that, Saif was lucky to get as many as five reprieves.
Kuldeep Yadav’s (3/18 in 4 overs) craft was too much for them to decode while Varun Chakravarthy (2/29 in 4 overs) also got his share of wickets on a day when Axar Patel (1/37 in 4 overs) was blasted for four sixes.
Jasprit Bumrah (2/18 in 4 overs) also had a good day in office.
While some of the other Bangladeshi batters didn’t measure up, right-handed Saif muscled the likes of Axar and Chakravarthy for five huge sixes to keep his team interested but had no support at the other end.
Earlier, Abhishek Sharma blended power with copious amount of grace to smash a 37-ball-75 before indiscreet cricket from the other batters restricted India to a par 168 for six.
Abhishek, who is in the middle of a dream phase, hit six fours and five huge sixes in his sizzling effort. (PTI)
Brief scores:
India: 168/6 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 75, Shubman Gill 29 and Hardik Pandya 38).
Bangladesh: 127 all out in 19.3 overs (Saif Hassan 69; Kuldeep Yadav 3/18, Varun Chakravarthy 2/29 and Axar Patel 1/37).
TODAY’S FIXTURE
Pak V/s Ban at
Dubai (8.00 pm)
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