Sports Reporter :
India emerged as the champions of the Nidahas Trophy Tri-Nation Twenty20 Cricket Tournament beating Bangladesh by four wickets in the final at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday night.
Chasing Bangladesh’s fighting total of 166 for the loss of eight wickets in the stipulated 20 overs, India reached the winning target in the last delivery of the 20th over making 168 for the loss of six wickets. India made a poor start as they lost two wickets for 32 runs.
Then opener Rohit Sharma and Lokesh Rahul put on together 51 runs for the third wicket partnership before Rahul was caught at the deep square leg by Saabbir rahman off Rubel Hossain when India’s score was 83 for the loss of three wickets.
Rohit Sharma fought back making 56. He hit three sixes and four fours before he was caught at the long-on by Mahmudullah Riyad off Nazmul Islam when India’s total was 98 for the loss of four wickets.
Rahul made 24 from 14 balls including two fours and a sixer.
Later, Dinesh Karthik earned 22 runs in the last over of Rubel Hossain, which was the main cause of Bangladesh’s defeat.
Karthik remained unbeaten with 29. His 8-ball innings was studded with three sixes and two fours. Karthik played the vital role for India’s victory.
Manish Pandey was the other Indian batsman, who shone with the willow. He hit 29 from 27 balls including three fours.
Rubel Hossain bagged a pair of wickets at the cost of 35 runs.
Mustafizur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Nazmul Islam and Soumya Sarkar took one wicket each for 21, 28, 32 and 38 runs respectively.
Earlier, Bangladesh faced an early jolt as they lost three wickets for 33 runs.
One-down Sabbir Rahman and Mushfiqur Rahim added 35 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Mushfiqur Rahim (9) was caught by Vijay Shankar off Yuzvendra Chahal when Bangladesh’s score was 68 for the loss of four wickets.
Sabbir Rahman hit a marvelous 77. His 50 -ball innings was decorated with four sixes and seven fours.
After Mushfiq’s dismissal, Sabbir and Mahmudullah Riyad contributed together 46 runs in the fifth wicket stand before Riyad was unfortunately run out by a joint-effort of wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik and Vijay Shankar when Bangladesh’s total was 104 for the loss of five wickets.
Riyad made 21 from 16 balls featuring two fours.
Then Sabbir and Shakib added together 29 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Shakib (7) was unfortunately run out by Vijay Shankar when the Togers’ score was 133 for the loss of six wickets.
Sabbir Rahman was cleanly bowled out by Jaydev Unadkat when Bangladesh’s total was 147 for the loss of seven wickets.
Mehedi Hasan Miraz remained unbeaten with 19. He hit two fours and a sixer in his seven-ball knock.
Chahal captured three wickets instead of 18 runs, while Unadkat claimed two wickets at the cost of 33 runs.
Besides, Washington Sundar took one wicket for 20 runs.
