Taskin Ahmed’s yorker that disturbed Rohit Sharma’s furniture came a bit too late in the day for challengers Bangladesh. For a while, the Bengal Tigers had looked like they were giving defending champions a tough time in the second quarter-final of the International Cricket Council’s World Cup 2015.
For a change, Rohit Sharma’s eyes were wide open when India batted first and emulated the innings he had played against Australia two months ago at the same venue – Melbourne Cricket Ground. Keeping his abundant talent under check, the Mumbai lad put his head down and played a brilliant knock of 137 runs off 126 balls to take India to a safe total of 302 runs.
The best take-home from his brilliant display was that he reined in his urge to go for the bowling until he found comfort in the company of Suresh Raina, whose approach changed the texture of the Indian innings. The left-right combination was a godsend for India as their in-form batsmen; Shikhar Dhavan, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane were back in the dugout with the Indian run-rate a little over 4 runs an over just above the half way stage of the innings.
Good bowling
The Bangladesh bowlers had the game completely in control by blunting the rapiers of Indian’s famed batting line-up on a low and slow MCG pitch. Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza erred in allowing Sharma and Raina to milk the bowling. The duo soon settled down, paced their innings well to take the run-rate to a healthy 4.5 and set the platform for a big score.
The fielders didn’t help Bangladesh’s cause either with their sloppy display and skipper Mortaza made matters worse by losing his cool each time the fielders goofed up. It proved to be a “bad hair day” for Bangladesh as experienced English umpire Ian Gould ruled in favour of Rohit Sharma, who was caught of a no ball, which effectively was a legitimate delivery. Not that it would have made a major difference to the Indians who had, by then, looked well set to post a big total.
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni continued his strategy – that has worked very well so far - and peppered the opposition with short-pitched balls thereby keeping them from coming onto the front foot. The bowlers did not disappoint either and kept the pressure on to throttle the Bangladesh batsmen and not allow them to play freely.
Much-needed boost
The team management will be pleased that Sharma finally found his rhythm that will give them the much-needed boost before for big semi-final to follow at the Sydney Cricket Ground next Thursday. The smiles will not just be for his seamless stroke play but for the manner in which he got the big score at a time when the situation was tricky. One does hope he realises the value of patience and continues to stay on the wicket as runs will always come to him.
To win seven games on the trot, dismissing the opposition in all matches is a great achievement for Team India. For the Indian skipper, it was a momentous occasion after winning 100 matches that has put him in the list of top five captains in the history of One Day International cricket. One could see the raw energy that he has infused in the team, which collectively refused to let go their stranglehold even as Bangladesh kept losing wickets.
India just has two more matches to go to realise their dream. They know they cannot afford to get complacent and give it away. The occasion, of playing the semi-final against a tough team (no predictions at this stage), itself will propel each and every team member to give his best.
For a change, Rohit Sharma’s eyes were wide open when India batted first and emulated the innings he had played against Australia two months ago at the same venue – Melbourne Cricket Ground. Keeping his abundant talent under check, the Mumbai lad put his head down and played a brilliant knock of 137 runs off 126 balls to take India to a safe total of 302 runs.
The best take-home from his brilliant display was that he reined in his urge to go for the bowling until he found comfort in the company of Suresh Raina, whose approach changed the texture of the Indian innings. The left-right combination was a godsend for India as their in-form batsmen; Shikhar Dhavan, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane were back in the dugout with the Indian run-rate a little over 4 runs an over just above the half way stage of the innings.
Good bowling
The Bangladesh bowlers had the game completely in control by blunting the rapiers of Indian’s famed batting line-up on a low and slow MCG pitch. Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza erred in allowing Sharma and Raina to milk the bowling. The duo soon settled down, paced their innings well to take the run-rate to a healthy 4.5 and set the platform for a big score.
The fielders didn’t help Bangladesh’s cause either with their sloppy display and skipper Mortaza made matters worse by losing his cool each time the fielders goofed up. It proved to be a “bad hair day” for Bangladesh as experienced English umpire Ian Gould ruled in favour of Rohit Sharma, who was caught of a no ball, which effectively was a legitimate delivery. Not that it would have made a major difference to the Indians who had, by then, looked well set to post a big total.
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni continued his strategy – that has worked very well so far - and peppered the opposition with short-pitched balls thereby keeping them from coming onto the front foot. The bowlers did not disappoint either and kept the pressure on to throttle the Bangladesh batsmen and not allow them to play freely.
Much-needed boost
The team management will be pleased that Sharma finally found his rhythm that will give them the much-needed boost before for big semi-final to follow at the Sydney Cricket Ground next Thursday. The smiles will not just be for his seamless stroke play but for the manner in which he got the big score at a time when the situation was tricky. One does hope he realises the value of patience and continues to stay on the wicket as runs will always come to him.
To win seven games on the trot, dismissing the opposition in all matches is a great achievement for Team India. For the Indian skipper, it was a momentous occasion after winning 100 matches that has put him in the list of top five captains in the history of One Day International cricket. One could see the raw energy that he has infused in the team, which collectively refused to let go their stranglehold even as Bangladesh kept losing wickets.
India just has two more matches to go to realise their dream. They know they cannot afford to get complacent and give it away. The occasion, of playing the semi-final against a tough team (no predictions at this stage), itself will propel each and every team member to give his best.
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