C T Online Desk: Bangladesh finished their Asia Cup 2023 campaign in a spectacular way after they beat India by six runs during a thrilling Super Four encounter at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday.
Skipper Shakib Al Hasan and middle-order batsman Tawhid Hridoy shone with the bat as they struck 80 and 54 runs respectively while Bangladesh no. 8 Nasum Ahmed also contributed vital 44 runs to guide the Tigers post 265-8 in 50 overs after being sent into bat first.
Debutant pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib then took two early wickets to rock India in their run-chase before other bowlers also joined him in the act by taking regular wickets.
However, Indian opener Shubman Gill remained firm at the crease and completed his fifth ODI ton before he was dismissed by off-spinner Mahedi Hasan (2-50) after scoring 121 off 133 balls with eight fours and five sixes.
India, who were 209-7 at that time, still required 57 runs off 38 balls and Axar Patel (42) and Shardul Thakur (11) then shared a 40-run stand to take India close to the victory.
Experienced pacer Mustafizur Rahman (3-50) then bowled a brilliant penultimate over where he conceded only five runs and also dismissed both the set batsmen to make the equation – 12 runs in the last over.
Skipper Shakib then showed his trust on debutant Tanzim (2-32) in the final over and the 20-year-old also lived up to his captain’s expectations by conceding only five runs before Mohammed Shami (six) was run out in the penultimate delivery of the Indian innings that confirmed Bangladesh’s memorable win.
As the game result had no impact in the tournament, both the teams opted to start with making a few changes from their previous games in the tournament.
Bangladesh brought in Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mustafizur Rahman, Mahedi Hasan and debutant Tanzim Hasan Sakib in their playing XI while India rested key players like Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj keeping Sunday’s final against Sri Lanka in mind.
Bangladesh, who lost to Pakistan and Sri Lanka in their previous two Super Four games, had a terrible start as they lost Liton Das (0) in the third over before Tanzid (13) and Anamul (four) also departed cheaply within the first six overs.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was dropped twice by Indian fielders, couldn’t utilize the opportunities as he was dismissed by Axar after making 13 runs that reduced Bangladesh to 59-4 in the 14th over.
Shakib and Hridoy then rebuilt the innings and shared a 101-run stand for the fifth wicket stand to take the score beyond 150-run mark before Indian bowlers hit back once again by taking three quick wickets to reduce the Tigers to 193-7.
Indian left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja became the only seventh bowler from his country to take 200 wickets in this format when he trapped Shamim Hossain (one) in front in between the wickets of Shakib and Hridoy.
Nasum, who came to bat at number 8, then struck his career-best innings while Mahedi and Tanzim scored two brilliant unbeaten knocks of 29 and 14 runs respectively to take Bangladesh to a challenging total.
Shardul Thakur finished with 3-65 while Mohammed Shami also claimed 2-32.
In the run-defense, Tanzim claimed the priced wicket of Rohit Sharma (0) in the second ball of his international career while he also dismissed his U-19 rival and debutant for India Tilak Verma (five) in his next over.
Mahedi then removed KL Rahul on 19 after he had a 57-run stand with opener Gill before Mehidy dismissed Ishan Kishan (five) to reduce India to 94-4 in the 24th over.
Shakib ended his three-match wicketless drought by taking the wicket of Suryakumar Yadav (26) before Mustafizur uprooted Ravindra Jadeja’s (seven) stumps a few overs later.
Indian lower-order demonstrated a late fightback in the run-chase but Bangladesh held their nerves at the end to finish the tournament on a high note.
Shakib was adjudged player of the match for his brilliant all-round effort – 80 off 85 balls and 1-43 in 10 overs.
