Mirpur, Mar 28:
India tonight became the first team to qualify for the semifinals of the ICC World Twenty20 after routing hosts Bangladesh by eight wickets in a thoroughly one-sided Group II match, here.
India restricted Bangladesh to 138 for seven, courtesy yet another dominating performance by their spinners and then the batsmen made short work of the target by crossing the line with nine balls to spare.
Leggie Amit Mishra (3/26) and off-spinner R Ashwin (2/15) shared five wickets between them to set up the win.
This is third successive victory in the competition for India and they are well on top of Group 2 with six points and a match to go against Australia, who are more or less out of semifinal race.
India’s last-four berth is also their first since the inaugural edition in South Africa back in 2007.
Save Shikhar Dhawan (1)’s early departure, there weren’t any hiccup as Rohit Sharma (56) and Virat Kohli (57) batted with consummate ease and the ‘Men In Blue’ reached the target without breaking much sweat. Both Sharma and Kohli scored their second successive half-centuries.
The duo added 100 runs for the second wicket partnership to pave the way for another professional show by the team.
Rohit faced 44 balls in his knock hitting five fours and a six. Virat took 50 deliveries for his knock and helped himself with three fours and a six in the process.
Such has been the duo’s domination in the tournament that skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had to promote himself up to get an opportunity to bat as he desperately needed some ‘batting practice’ in a match situation.
Dhoni (22 off 12) finished it off in style by hitting a straight six off Ziaur Rahman. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel