Kohli leads India’s seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh
India registered their fourth consecutive win Thursday in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 by inflicting a seven-wicket defeat on Bangladesh in Pune.
Star batsman Virat Kohli’s unbeaten century sealed India’s fourth win in the tournament. He faced 97 balls, including six fours and four sixes.
The stage was set for Kohli by an opening partnership of 88 between India skipper Rohit Sharma (48) and Shubman Gill (53).
Rohit, fresh from scores of 131 and 86 against Afghanistan and Pakistan respectively, hooked Hasan Mahmud for a huge six only to hole out when trying to repeat the shot next ball.
Kohli, however, was soon into his stride with a four — off a free hit — and a sublime straight six from successive Mahmud deliveries.
Gill’s exit, as he just failed to clear the rope for a third time, made little difference to the run-spree.
A third defeat in four matches left Bangladesh with an uphill struggle to qualify for the semi-finals.
Earlier, Indian spinners restricted Bangladesh to 256-8 in a World Cup match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune.
Litton Das and Tanzid Tamim’s fifties guided Bangladesh to set India a 257-run target for 8 wickets in the 17th match of the ICC ODI World Cup.
Bangladesh stand-in captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first. Regular captain Shakib Al Hasan did not play the match due to injury.
Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Litton Das opened the innings for Bangladesh, and they gradually increased the run rate.
Tamim scored fifty in the 14th over of the innings. This was the first half-century of his career.
Neither Nazmul Hossain Shanto nor Mehidy Hasan Miraz could reach double figures today.
Shanto scored 8 runs and Miraz scored 3 runs.
Litton scored 50 by keeping one end. He played 62 balls to reach the second fifty of his World Cup career. Before being sent to the pavilion, he scored 66 runs off 82 balls.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Towhid Hridoy made a 42-run partnership. However, Hridoy increased the pressure on the team with one dot after another. He returned to the pavilion after scoring 16 runs off 35 balls. Mushfiqur, who was playing well, returned after scoring 38 runs.
Despite being given a tough time by the Indian spinners, Bangladesh got a fighting total of 256 runs for 8 wickets in 50 overs, thanks to Mahmudullah Riyad’s 48 runs off 36 balls.
