On Wednesday, Virat Kohli became the top run-scorer in Twenty20 World Cup history as India defeated Bangladesh by five runs in a rain-soaked Twenty20 World Cup match in Adelaide that went down to the final ball.
Virat Kohli Shines again with 64*
After Bangladesh failed in their revised chase of 151 in 16 overs, India now leads Group 2 and can earn a semi-final position with a win over Zimbabwe in their final Group 2 encounter on Sunday. Virat Kohli unbeaten 64 had led India to 184-6, but Bangladesh appeared to be on track for victory after speeding to 66-0 in seven overs before rain interrupted play, resulting in four overs being wasted.
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Liton Das scored a 27-ball 60, but he run out after the 50-minute break signaling the end of Bangladesh’s innings, which concluded on 145-6. With 20 needed off the last over, Nurul Hasan offered them hope with a six and a four, but left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh kept his nerve on the penultimate ball to give India their third win in four games.
Bangladesh is effectively eliminated from the semi-finals
Das got the squad off to a fast start, hitting his fifty in 21 balls, but when he fell to KL Rahul’s straight smash, India roared back. Arshdeep hit twice in one over, including skipper Shakib Al Hasan’s reward of 13 to turn the tables. Hardik Pandya grabbed two wickets in the 13th over as Bangladesh dropped from 98-2 to 108-6, falling short of their DLS method mark despite Hasan’s 14-ball 25.
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Virat Kohli undefeated 64 and KL Rahul’s blistering 50 paved the way for India’s triumph with a 67-run stand. In the process, Virat Kohli surpassed former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene’s tally of 1,016 runs to become the T20 World Cup’s best scorer. Jayawardene established the record with 31 innings, but Virat Kohli passed him in only 23.
Match-winning Efforts by Indian Star Batters
Virat Kohli, who had previously scored two match-winning half-centuries in this World Cup, blasted his third fifty in 37 balls, energizing the Indian-dominated audience at the Adelaide Oval. After Bangladesh chose to play, Taskin Ahmed held India trapped early with an outstanding opening burst of seam and swing bowling. Rohit Sharma was dismissed for two runs, but Rahul went on the offensive to reclaim his batting touch with a flurry of boundaries. He reached 50 off Shakib but fell on the next ball from the left-arm spinner after hitting three fours and four sixes.
Rohit Sharma was dismissed for two runs, but Rahul went on the offensive with a flurry of boundaries to reclaim his batting touch. There was no respite for the Bangladesh bowlers as Suryakumar Yadav joined Virat Kohli to keep up the attack, nonchalantly hitting the ball to all parts before Shakib struck again when he had made 30 off 16 balls. Virat Kohli anchored the innings and Ravichandran Ashwin enjoyed himself in a six-ball cameo for 13 that included a six and four in the final over.
Rahul, who had only scored 22 runs in the previous three games, hammered two sixes and a four in a 24-run ninth over as India’s run rate skyrocketed. After hitting three fours and four sixes, he scored 50 against Shakib but fell on the following ball from the left-arm spinner. Suryakumar Yadav joined Virat Kohli to keep up the assault, calmly smashing the ball to all places until Shakib struck again after he had reached 30 from 16 balls.
Ravichandran Ashwin had a six-ball cameo for 13 runs, including a six and four in the last over, to lead the innings.