Shubman Gill ton bats India to 6-wicket win, but credit to Hridoy ton up Bangladesh in stretching the tournament favourites

Winning the toss and opting to bat first Bangladesh top order reached the disaster zone when the top order was sent on a parade to the hutch with 35 runs for 5 wickets by the 8th over and power play ending on 39 for 5 wickets, what a display of seam and spin by tournament favourites India.

Axer Patel was on a hat-trick in the 9th over with Bangladesh on 35 for 5 wickets as Jacker Ali got to the pitch with Towhid Hridoy at the non striker’s end.

The very first ball he faced from Axer Patel was the hat-trick ball which he nicked to first slip as Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper missed a dolly as he grabbed at the ball there by not only spilling the easiest of slip nicks , but denying Axer Patel his hat-trick, but paved the way for Bangladesh to get to a competitive score, including an early finish to the game and earning his team the much sort after nett run rate advantage.

What a costly miss. India’s complacency and their haphazard catching and ground fielding helped Hridoy and Jakar Ali build a partnership of 154 runs for the 6th wicket.

Add fuel to the fire salt was rubbed to the wound when Hardik Pandya missed a sitter at mid off when Hridoy was on 28. The batter made full use of the opportunity to score his maiden century with Jaker Ali, who survived a first ball dropped catch, scoring 68 in sparing Bangladesh from the embarrassment of being bowled out for less than 100.

Top order fails 35 for 5 wickets, middle order clicks, thanks to sloppy catching, whilst the tail, despite an injured Hridoy batting at the other end, could muster only 63 runs for the loss of 5 wickets.

We know IF’S and BUT’S are not justified for failure in our beloved game, but imagine the margin of victory for India and the advantage of the nett run rate if Rohid Sharma took that catch off Jaker Ali, and Hardik Pandya took the sitter off Hridoy when he was only 28.

Nevertheless, credit to Bangladesh middle order that stiched a record partnership of 154 that not only helped the tigers to a competitive score of 228 but eyebrows being raised and questions debated as to whether they deserve to play in this competition ahead of Sri Lanka and the West indies.

Whilst Hridoy made his maiden ODI century for Bangladesh and Jaker Ali displayed his ability with a stroke filled 68, Mohamed Shami, the Indian seamer struck gold becoming the fastest bowler to 2000 ODI wickets from 5126 balls in breaking the record held by Australian Michell Starc’s 5240 wickets with his 5 for 53 registering his maiden five for. Shami has had nine four wicket hauls for India in ICC tournaments. Hence, this performance against Bangladesh is special in his illustrious career so far.

Axer Patel, who was denied a hat-trick, scalped 2 wickets for 43, Harshit Rana of the seam cordon scalped 3 for 31, but Kuldeep Yadev, and his spin twin Ravindra Jadeja including third seamer Hardik Pandya went zero in the wickets bank.

229 is not herculean given the Indian strong batting line up, but Rohit Sharma, who phycologicaly was under the pump for dropping the dolly, made 41 unconvincing runs , whilst Virat Kholi looked tentative for his 22, Sheyes Ayer will not want to watch his dismissal for 11 whilst Axer Patel fell victim without disturbing the scorers.

The game looked in the balance with India on 144 for 4 wickets at one stage, but the consistency of Shubman Gill for his well compiled unbeaten 101 supported by the ever reliable 41 by K.L Rahul the combination who stiched a 87 run unbroken partnership for the 5th wicket saw India win by 6 wickets with 3.3 overs to spare.

Leg spinner Rishab Hossain looked impressive with 2 for 32.

India won by 6 wickets and got on the points table with a nett runrate of + 0.408, however, lots of work to be done by the fielding unit who will meet arch rivals Pakistan on Sunday the 23rd.