Saturday Sep 21, 2024
Saturday Sep 21, 2024
Monday, 19 March 2018 01:45 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
In a contest with several potential match-winning performances, it was Dinesh Karthik who produced the defining one as he gazumped 29 runs off just 8 deliveries to snatch a dramatic four-wicket win for India.
Requiring 5 to win off the final ball, Karthik creamed a flat six over cover to break Bangladeshi hearts and send a partisan Khettarama crowd - who had not forgotten the acrimonious finish in their last game against Bangladesh - into frenzied celebrations, as India deservedly won the Nidahas Trophy.
In a tournament that had already produced several close finishes, this was arguably the best of the lot. That that was the case was largely down to the tenacity of a Bangladesh outfit that refused to give in despite prolonged periods of Indian domination.
India had begun their chase off 167 in blistering fashion with Rohit Sharma in particular enjoying himself, with the Bangladeshi spinners clearly targeted as Mehidi Hasan came in for the most punishment going for a six, four, and another six, off consecutive deliveries.
Bangladesh, whose death bowling has been poor throughout the tournament, put forward a much better showing this time around throttling the Indian batting lineup expertly following that loose start, as chase that had looked comfortable at one point - when India needed 83 off the last 10 overs - progressively became tighter.
India were unable to find a single boundary between the 9th and 14th overs. Mustafizur was inspired in his use of cutters and change of pace, while the part-time Soumya Sarkar was also delivering balls in the block hole with regularity. Eventually the required rate had jumped to nearly 12 when India needed 35 off 18 balls. This equation dropped to 34 off 12 following a scarcely believable Mustafizur over and Bangladesh began believing.
Then stepped up the man who would be Man of the Match, as Karthik took 22 runs off Rubel in the 19th over to bring the equation down to 12 from 6. However an out of sorts Vijay Shankar was on strike and, unable to get the ball away effectively, the required rate came down to 9 off 3. Shankar miraculously found the third man boundary to make it 6 from 2, before a single brought Karthik on strike for the final delivery.
Sarkar attempting a wide yorker, full and wide, was unable to find the popping crease, allowing Karthik to complete his eight-ball masterclass.
Earlier, having put Bangladesh into bat spinners Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal once again performed their suffocating double act, as eight collective overs between them produced a return of 38 runs and four wickets.
Sabbir Rahman would prove to be the only constant in the Bangladesh batting effort as he survived India’s early spin pressure to target the pace bowling of Shardul Thakur and Vijay Shankar, as Bangladesh scored 98 runs in the final 10 overs.
Rahman’s innings however wouldn’t be without it’s fair share of controversy as he was culpable in running out an in-form Mahmudullah, while he was also involved in another run out with Shakib.
He would make up for it with some lusty hitting, though some fearsome death bowling from Jaydev Unadkat looked to have stopped the Bangladesh innings dead, as he rattled Sabbir’s and then Rubel’s stumps in the penultimate over.
Mehedi would prove to be an unlikely source of runs though as he plundered two fours and a six in an 18-run final over over off Thakur, to help Bangladesh post a competitive total - one that might have been enough, if not for the outstanding big-game credentials of Dinesh Karthik at the death.
