ICC World Twenty20: India edge Bangladesh in last-ball thriller

Seemingly out for the count after two defeats, Bangladesh almost pulled off a stunner, but Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s bold decision to use the brave Hardik Pandya in the last over saw India snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

A big gamble translated into a nerve-wracking, nail-biting victory but a delightful one for the sell-out crowd at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as India tantalisingly won by the narrowest of margins — one run.

For all that Bangladesh did through the match, they couldn’t get the one run to get past the line as the visitors, chasing India’s 146/7 and well within reach requiring 11 off the last six balls, ended up at 145/8.

Dhoni’s captaincy was brilliant and Pandya justified the faith snaring two wickets in the final over and restrict the over-the-top Bangladeshis.

In a heart-stopping win, Dhoni’s run out of Mustafizur Rahman to the last ball as he sprinted from behind the stumps will become part of folklore.

In the evening, for the third straight time, the Men in Blue couldn’t flex their batting muscles as a spongy turf and a combination of alacrity and athleticism by the Bangladesh fielders ensured the hosts stayed below the 150-mark. In turn, the Indians were profligate as millionaires in the field and almost paid the penalty.

With every game being a knockout at this stage, India sent into bat appeared to be lively for the first half hour or so before some rash strokes and a feisty mix of disciplined bowling and extremely good fielding by the visitors pegged them back.

Yet, it was in keeping with the low totals on this pitch for the third match running. Notwithstanding the early loss of opener Md Mithun, maverick left-hander Tamim Iqbal (35, 32b) making the most of a reprieve by Jasprit Bumrah on 15, and Sabbir Rahman (26, 15b) plundered the Indian attack. The 44-run (32b) partnership between the two fired them as Bangladesh raced away to 55/1 before Tamim was stumped by Dhoni off Ravindra Jadeja.

The Indian spinners bowled beautifully with R. Ashwin being splendid and Jadeja keeping it tight.

India’s victory strengthened their semi-final chances of joining New Zealand though Sunday’s game against Australia will probably decide that even as Bangla crashed to their third defeat.

Scoreboard India: R. Sharma c Sabbir Rahman b Mustafizur Rahman 18, S. Dhawan lbw b Shakib 23, V. Kohli b Shuvagata 24, S. Raina c Sabbir Rahman b Hossain 30, H. Pandya c Sarkar b Hossain 15, M.S. Dhoni (not out) 13, Yuvraj Singh c Hossain b Mahmudullah 3, R. Jadeja b Mustafizur Rahman 12, R. Ashwin (not out) 5. Extras: (lb 2, w 1) 3. Total: (for 7 wkts, in 20 overs) 146. Fow: 1-42, 2-45, 3-95, 4-112, 5-112, 6-117, 7-137. Bowling: Mortaza 4-0-22-0 (1w), Shuvagata 3-0-24-1, Al-Amin 4-0-37-2, Mustafizur 4-0-34-2, Shakib 4-0-23-1, Mahmudullah 1-0-4-1

Bangladesh: T. Iqbal st Dhoni b Jadeja 35, M. Mithun c Pandya b Ashwin 1, S. Rahman st Dhoni b Raina 26, S. Al Hasan c Raina b Ashwin 22, M. Mortaza b Jadeja 6, Mahmudullah c Jadeja b Pandya 18, S. Sarkar c Kohli b Nehra 21, M. Rahim c Dhawan b Pandya 11, S. Hom (not out) 0, M. Rahman run out 0. Extras: (lb 4, w 1) 5. Total: (for 9 wkts, in 20 overs) 145. Fow: 1-11, 2-55, 3-69, 4-87, 5-95, 6-126, 7-145, 8-145, 9-145. Bowling: Nehra 4-0-29-1, Bumrah 4-0-32-0, Ashwin 4-0-20-2, Jadeja 4-0-22-2, Pandya 3-0-29-2, Raina 1-0-9-1 (1w)