Rohit, Sundar shine as India reach final

Inspired by opener Rohit Sharma's heroics, India emerged as the first team to confirm a berth in the grand finale of the Nidahas T20I tri-nation series. The Indians registered a comfortable 17-run victory over high-flying Bangladesh at R Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo Wednesday. Bangladesh chasing 177 runs drifted from competition after losing wickets at regular intervals. In-form Bangladesh batsman Mushfiqur Rahim posted his second consecutive unbeaten half-century, and also recorded his career best T20I score, making 72 off 55 balls. The wicketkeeper-batsman however, badly missed a partner at the other end. The defeat for the Tigers meant they now have set up an unofficial semi-final with host Sri Lanka. The two sides will play the final game of the league phase Friday to determine the second finalist, who will take on India Sunday at the same venue. Right-arm spinner Washington Sundar made early inroads to hamper the Tigers’ chase. The 18-year old bagged three wickets in each of his first three overs. Sundar in his first over removed opener Liton Das for seven and in the second, dismissed left-handed batsman Soumya Sarkar for one. In the sixth over of the innings, Sundar accounted for the wicket of opener Tamim Iqbal to leave the men in red and green reeling on 40 for three. Tamim, who was looking good for the Tigers having put on 27 off 19 deliveries with four boundaries and a six, left the charge in the hands of Mushfiq. Mushfiq, who went out to the middle in the fourth over of the chase, batted till the end but was unable to stave off defeat. The right-handed batsman had offered some hope, partnering with No 6 batsman Sabbir Rahman to add 65 for the fifth wicket. Bangladesh needed 61 from their last five overs but lost the way after losing Sabbir for 27 in the 17th over and youngster Mehedi Hasan Miraz in the second ball of the last over. Earlier, Rohit recovered from a run of poor form as the right-handed batsman posted 89 on the board to propel his side to 176. Rohit once again proved that Bangladesh are his favourite opponent in the format as he registered his third half-century against the opposition.

Bangladesh lost by 17 runs against India in the 5th match of Nidahas Trophy 2018. pic.twitter.com/S8i8uSfO49

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) March 14, 2018

Bangladesh, boosted with confidence from the historic five-wicket win against host Sri Lanka in their previous game, had come to lock horn with India with one change – left-arm pacer Abu Haider replacing the out of shape Taskin Ahmed. The Tigers asked India to bat first in a game which Bangladesh needed to win to keep alive their chance of advancing to the grand finale. India stand-in captain Rohit was due some runs when he walked down to open the batting alongside Shikhar Dhawan. The right-hander had scored a combined 28 in the first three matches of the series and failed to lead from the front, which he reconciled in some style with his blistering 89 off 61 balls to enable India to break Bangladesh's tight bowling efforts in front of a moderate crowd at R Premadasa. The Tigers had started well with the ball with five different bowlers bowling the first five overs of the innings, eventually giving away only 49 in the first six overs. Haider, playing his first T20I for Bangladesh since the 2016 World T20, conceded only two in the first over. Spinner Nazmul Islam Apu leaked nine and seamer Rubel Hossain conceded seven in the second and third over respectively. Pacer Mustafizur Rahman bowling the fourth and Miraz the fifth gave away nine and 11 respectively. In the sixth over, Haider returned to action and conceded 11. Mixing the bowlers and with a perfect field set-up, Bangladesh had denied India from getting off to a flying start on a R Premadasa wicket, which, on the day, was gripping the ball. The two India openers in the shape of Rohit and Dhawan reacted to the situation perfectly as they milked 70 for the opening stand. Rubel removed Dhawan in the second last ball of the 10th over for 35 off 27 deliveries. With No 3 batsman Suresh Raina as the new partner, Rohit kept the runs coming along and only started taking chances as the innings progressed into the last five overs.

The Men in Blue seal their spot in the #NidahasTrophy final! ?

Rohit Sharma led from the front with the bat, while Washington Sundar was instrumental with the ball in #TeamIndia's 17-run victory over Bangladesh. #BANvIND pic.twitter.com/8HoioeAUof— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 14, 2018

At the end of the 15th over, India were batting on 117 as Rohit and Raina stepped on the gas to fetch 59 in the last five overs. The 17th over, bowled by Mustafizur, and the 18th by Haider went for 14 and 21 respectively.BRIEF SCOREBangladesh 159/6 (Mushfiq 72*, Sundar 3/22) lost to India 176/3 (Rohit 89, Raina 47) by 17 runs POINTS TABLETeams M W L Pts NRRIndia 4 3 1 6 0.377Sri Lanka 3 1 2 2 -0.072Bangladesh 3 1 2 2 -0.436