India beat Bangladesh to keep semifinal hopes alive

Bengaluru, March 23

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India edged out Bangladesh by one run in a thrilling World Twenty20 match on Wednesday to keep alive their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

India posted a modest 146-7 after being sent in to bat, but Bangladesh lost three wickets, including a last-ball run out, in the final over to fall to a narrow defeat.  

Bangladesh put in a much-improved performance with the ball to restrict hosts India to 146-7.

India, under pressure after being beaten by New Zealand in their opening match, lost both openers in quick succession with less than 50 runs on the board after being asked to bat by Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza.

Rohit Sharma (18) was the first to fall, caught by Sabbir Rahman after skying a Mustafizur Rahman delivery in the sixth over.

Shakib Al Hasan trapped Shikhar Dhawan (23) lbw in the next over, to leave the hosts at 45-2.

Virat Kohli (24) and Suresh Raina (30) steadied the ship for India, adding 50 runs for the third wicket, but a disciplined performance by the Bangladesh bowlers kept the Indian batsmen under constant pressure.

Shuvagata Hom bowled Kohli before Al-Amin Hossian, who had been hit for back-back-sixes by Raina, rallied to dismiss the big-hitting Hardik Pandya and Raina with consecutive deliveries.

Pandya (15), hit two boundaries and a six before a diving Soumya Sarkar pulled off a stunning catch in the outfield to send him packing.

Hossian took a simple catch of a Mahmudullah delivery to see off Yuvraj Singh for three and Mustafizur Rahman struck again at the death to remove Ravindra Jadeja for 12 with the first ball of the last over to keep India below 150. — Reuters