MIRPUR, Bangladesh, (Reuters) – Former champions India became the first team to qualify for the World Twenty20 semi-finals after half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma secured a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over hosts Bangladesh yesterday.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra (3-26) was again among the wickets as India restricted the hosts to a below-par 138 for seven and chased down target with nine balls to spare to secure their third win in three matches in the tournament.
“We’ve performed well in this tournament but there are still a couple of areas we can improve in,” India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni told reporters.
“We fielded well but we’ve seen quite a few catches going down in the tournament and it has been a problem with all teams.”
It was a familiar story for the Indians as Dhoni won the toss again and inserted Bangladesh before unleashing his bowlers who restricted their rivals to a sub-140 score for the third match in the tournament. Once again Kohli proved why he is considered India’s batting mainstay, walking in early after Shikhar Dhawan’s cheap dismissal and staying till the end to secure the victory.
Once again, Dhoni hit a six to seal the win just as he did in the final of the 50-over World Cup in 2011.
“(Because of small chases) our middle order has not really been tested… I’ve not got any batting for a while, so it was a late decision (to promote myself). I said I should go out and play a bit.”
Dhawan’s struggle for fluency continued as the left-hander fell for one but the steady Sharma (56) and in-form Kohli (57 not out) negotiated the modest Bangladesh attack with ease on the way to a century stand.
Sharma got a reprieve on 34 when both Anamul Haq and Sohag Gazi went for the skied chance he offered and the fielders were lucky not to collide after wasting the opportunity to dismiss him.
