Regardless of its stuttering batting and a partisan crowd in Dubai that cheered Bangladesh on, India maintained its standing because the superior group within the match with a 41-run win to seal its place within the remaining of the Asia Cup on Wednesday.
Bangladesh’s batting had a spark of magnificence in Saif Hassan, however lacked a concerted effort that might burn by the 169-run goal in opposition to a well-rounded Indian assault.
Saif made a fist of it, helped by 4 reprieves, and reached a half-century off 36 balls with a six down the bottom off Axar Patel. Saif has a penchant for enjoying straight, and he confirmed that when he launched a back-of-a-length supply outdoors off over long-on in the identical over. Apparently, all his 5 sixes got here down the bottom.
Nonetheless, his dismissal additionally got here in that area when he slapped the ball over Jasprit Bumrah’s head, and Axar held on to a catch after a fumble, denying Saif a fifth lease of life.
Bangladesh’s Saif Hassan (L) bought 4 reprieves however he fell wanting companions in Bangladesh’s chase of 169 runs.
| Photograph Credit score:
AFP
Bangladesh’s Saif Hassan (L) bought 4 reprieves however he fell wanting companions in Bangladesh’s chase of 169 runs.
| Photograph Credit score:
AFP
Kuldeep Yadav dashed Bangladesh’s hopes within the earlier over by eradicating Rishad Hossain and Tanzim Hasan Sakib off successive balls.
Barring Saif and Parvez Hossain Emon, who swept Varun Chakaravarthy for consecutive fours, no different batter might rating in double-digits as Bangladesh misplaced its final eight wickets for 62 runs.
Nevertheless it wasn’t clean crusing for India within the first half, after Bangladesh elected to bowl. The opposition’s number of spin choices pressured India to shuffle its batting order, and a collapse adopted, with Shivam Dube, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma falling for single-digit scores throughout a part that noticed the facet lose 4 wickets for 46 runs.
Hardik Pandya tried to offer the flailing innings a facelift with some beautiful boundaries by the off-side, however a well-planned four-run remaining over from Mohammad Saifuddin averted a remaining flourish.
In truth, the final 5 overs yielded solely 36 runs, with Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Saifuddin providing the batters minimal tempo to work with, whereas steering clear from their hitting arc. As many as 15 off the final 30 deliveries pitched within the back-of-a-length/size space, and India might solely rating 13 runs from them.
On the uncommon event when the bowlers erred on the fuller facet, Hardik latched onto them, going deep in his crease earlier than transferring his physique weight into the shot to offer the ball a whack.
India’s Kuldeep Yadav (C) ended with figures three for 18 and was essential in deflating Bangladesh’s chase by the center overs.
| Photograph Credit score:
AFP
India’s Kuldeep Yadav (C) ended with figures three for 18 and was essential in deflating Bangladesh’s chase by the center overs.
| Photograph Credit score:
AFP
It was a well-known sight, for Abhishek Sharma additionally served up a tantalising show of strokes by the off-side earlier within the innings. It wasn’t the standard free-flowing begin for the bruising left-hander, who was additionally dropped on 7 by the wicketkeeper Jaker Ali. Nonetheless, he discovered his groove after three overs and exploded within the remaining over of the PowerPlay, maximising the fielding restrictions with 4 fours off Saifuddin’s first over.
With a deep backward square-leg and deep midwicket stationed on the boundary, Abhishek danced down the pitch to make room on the off-side when the ball was on leg-stump line, and slapped and reduce the shorter stuff by level and canopy.
Gill most popular taking a straighter route, carting left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed for a 4 and a six over mid-on, however then perished making an attempt to clear long-off proper after the PowerPlay. Dube’s left-handedness was deemed an antidote to leg-spinner Rishad Hossain and Nasum, however he sarcastically miscued a googly straight to long-off.
Within the matter of an over, India’s future flipped. Abhishek was run out due to a surprising cease and an electrical pick-up-and-throw at backward level earlier than Suryakumar’s detached kind continued when he was strangled down leg-side by Mustafizur’s slower supply.
Tilak was additionally deceived by a pace-off supply when he holed out at deep midwicket. With a left-arm spinner and a leg-break bowler working, Axar was despatched forward of Sanju Samson, however the transfer didn’t repay because the left-hander scratched round for a 15-ball 10.
But, it proved to be one other day when India’s imperfections have been nonetheless too good for the opposition.
Revealed on Sep 24, 2025