India became the second team to enter the semifinals of the world cup cricket 2019 after Australia as they defeated Bangladesh by 28 runs. Chasing 315 runs to win, Bangladesh shed their sweat and blood in a tight chase but faltered by 28 runs in the end. I really loved the way Bangladesh played in this entire tournament. They have chased huge totals and lost by meager margins, like West Indies. They were not fortunate enough to be on winning side on couple of occasions. Bangladesh cricket is at its flourishing best and they are playing really good cricket right at this moment. And India was not different for them. There was always a threat of Bangladesh giving a tight chase and go at the 300 + runs set by India and they had almost done it had India not pulled it off in a thrilling climax. Jasprit Bumrah was clinical with the ball and dismissed 4 of Bangladeshi batsmen while Hardik Pandya took 3 wickets in spite of giving away many runs. Right from the beginning Indian bowlers were in command of the situation. Even as the Bangladeshi batsmen tried to dominate and score at a brisk phase, the bowling changes worked for Indian bowlers. They kept taking wickets and did not allow any batsman or partnerships flourish so as to take away the match from their control. While the wily veteran Shakib Al Hasan was the top scorer for Bangladesh with 66 runs, Mohammad Saifuddin became the thorn in India’s flesh. Saifuddin played a gritty innings with a quick fire fifty and was looking in menacing mood. If he would have some senior batsman giving him company and had Bangladesh got 2-3 more wickets, he would have won the match for Bangladesh. After doing all the hard work with the ball, India had no answers for Mohammad Saifuddin. It happened to be Jasprit Bumrah who dismissed the last two batsmen in the 48th over keeping Saifuddin at the non striking end which won the match for India. Bangladesh still had 2 overs in hand when they lost the match. Saifuddin would have fancied his chances of getting the required runs if his company would have survived the last two balls. His decision to take a single on the fourth ball of Bumrah’s over cost them the match. Now Bangladesh too are almost out of contention of the semi final berth, but they played superbly and really had deserved better result and couple more wins than this!
Earlier, India who was looking good enough to get 380+ totals, even a 400 at a point played pathetically in the last 10 overs, as they have been doing throughout the tournament, to put 314 runs on board. The runs would be enough but seeing the way the Indian bowlers had bowled in most of their matches and seeing the way Bangladesh had given a tight chase to big totals, the score was gettable by Bangladesh. Bangladesh bowlers really bowled well towards the end and were successful in restricting India below 320. It was complimented by an equally pathetic batting display by the Indian lower order.
To begin with, Rohit Sharma continuing his scintillating form stuck a superb ton, his forth in this world cup and put on 180 runs partnership with K.L.Rahul for the first wicket in 29 overs. Rahul was looking good and made 77 runs. He was looking good enough to get to his ton. India lost Virat Kohli early and Hardik Pandya did not offer anything to the total. M.S. Dhoni continued his pathetic batting just like in his other matches while the lower order were clueless against disciplined Bangladeshi bowling attack. But the best part of the match was a superb batting display by Rishabh Pant who contributed 48 runs in 41 balls. Pant is a batsman to look for as far as Indian team is concerned. He is real talent and promising. If he breaks the shells of some of the negativities he has, he would be an asset for India. His obsession to attack every ball, immaterial of the bowler and condition will be damaging to him and his team. He needs to work over this. Mustafizur Rahman caused demolition of Indian batting order with his five wicket haul.
If India continues giving away their wickets at crucial part of the match and if their bowlers do not get tight and straight, India would definitely face trouble in the business end of the tournament. As of now, India qualifies for the semifinals and will be happy to do that. Indian fans too are would be glad to see their favorite team in the semis, so do I!
Hearty congratulations to team India. I would wish India win their last league match against Sri Lanka before playing their semifinal.
Until we catch up with more action from the next match, it is goodbye from me!
Keep enjoying your world cup matches and have fun!!
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