India got their World Cup campaign back on track by beating Bangladesh in Adelaide. However, their margin of victory was a lot closer than they would have liked, and owed their victory in part to the intervention of the weather.
The victory though puts them on top of Group 2, albeit temporarily with South Africa due to play Pakistan in Sydney.
A win in their final group game against Zimbabwe will guarantee them a semi-final berth.
Bangladesh, who were left ruing their luck, are not out of it completely, but are now dependent on results elsewhere if they are to progress.
Match recap
Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bowl first, enjoying early success when they had Rohit Sharma caught cheaply. But KL Rahul found some form with a half century, whilst it was another excellent day at the office for Virat Kohli, who followed up his innings against Pakistan and the Netherlands with another important knock for his side, making 64 off 44 balls, including a six and 8 fours. With Suryakumar Yadav again providing good support, India were able to post 164/6 from their 20 overs.
That seemed well beyond the reach of Bangladesh, but opener Liton Das felt differently and he piled into the Indian bowling
When rain forced the players off, Bangladesh were 17 runs ahead on the DLS (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern) methodology, but then fate ruled against them.
When they resumed their target was reduced to 151 off 16 overs, which meant scoring at a higher rate than they had done previously, and on a wet pitch that was not so conducive to scoring.
Das was the first to pay the price when he was run out after slipping attempting a second run, and from there wickets fell regularly.
In the end the task proved beyond them. Needing 20 from the last over, they managed to remain in contention until the last ball, but India won by 5 runs in the end.
Bangladesh left aggrieved
Bangladesh were left aggrieved by the decision to resume play when they did, with captain Shakib Al-Hasan touching the wet ground and gesturing to the umpires that it was unsafe to play. The dismissal of Das, who was threatening to win the match for his side when he had made 60, only underlined his displeasure.
They also pointed out that, in similar circumstances, when Ireland were ahead of England in terms of scoring rate when rain intervened, the Irish were awarded the match.
It has also raised again some of the criticisms of the DLS method. Not only is it complex and difficult to understand, but it also produces results that sometimes seen unfair, as was the case in this match.
Kohli continues to set the standard
Kohli, after several years of mixed form, has rediscovered himself in this competition and currently tops the run scoring chart. In four innings he has made 220 runs so far, including 7 sixes and 19 fours.
If India are to win the trophy in ten days’ time, they will be hoping that he can keep this up.
There will also be some encouragement that Rahul made some runs at last, even though their skipper continues to struggle with the bat.
Superior fielding
The Indian fielding in the defeat to South Africa had been criticised, including by captain Rohit Sharma. But this was a much better effort altogether, with catches taken and runs prevented wherever possible.
And their bowlers kept their nerve after coming under the pump from Das in the powerplay overs, and when it mattered at the death.
What happens next
India will play Zimbabwe in their final group game at the MCG in Melbourne, whilst Bangladesh will remain in Adelaide for their match against Pakistan.
Before that, the South Africa Pakistan match will have a major bearing on the outcome. Should South Africa win, because of their vastly superior Net Run Rate, they are almost certain to top the group, and India will be playing for second place.
A Pakistan victory on the other hand, throws everything wide open, and would boost India’s chances of avoiding the harder semi-final.
All eyes will be on Sydney to see what happens in that match.
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