Captain Shakib leads Tigers to 6-run victory against India

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan led the side from the front with a sterling allround performance as Bangladesh overcame a determined century of Shuvman Gill to beat India by 6 runs in their last match of the Asia Cup Super Four phase today at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

India earlier confirmed the final while Bangladesh were eliminated from the race following their seven-wicket and 21-run defeat to Pakistan and Sri Lanka respectively.

Nonetheless the win came as a boost for Bangladesh as they struggled in batting department in the whole tournament.

The top order batting once again came under scanner but Bangladesh middle order and lower order showed an unwavering resolve to help the side post a competitive 265-8 and it proved to be winning total at the end.
India, which came up without their five regular players, in the match turned out to be a dead-rubber for them, were finally all out for 259 in 49.5 overs. 

Bangladesh also made six changes but it was captain Shakib who played the crucial role in helping the win the game. Shakib hammered 80 in the batting and then took 1-43 in his 10 overs. He got the support from youngster Towhid Hridoy who made 54 and pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib who made a dream debut with 2-32 and also defended 12 runs in the last over.

Pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who these days got it tough to be included in the first choice team, made a shining comeback with 3-50 and he struck at crucial moment, dismissing Axar Patel who looked to take away the game.

Bangladesh which were put into bat first, faced a familiar top order collapse that reduced them to 59-4. While Shakib and Hridoy brought the side back to the contest, lower order had done the wonderful job unlike the previous matches.

Number 8 Nasum Ahmed hit career-best 44, No. 9Mahedi Hasan scored an unbeaten 29 and debutant Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who batted at No, 10 added 14 not out.

Thanks to their steely resolve, Bangladesh added 72 runs after Towhid Hridoy, the last recognized batter was dismissed, leaving the side 193-7 in 41.2 overs.

Fast bowler Mohammed Shami produced a beauty in just third over to remove Liton Das for a duck.

Tanzid Hasan Tamim who was dropped after his debut match against Afghanistan found boundaries three times inside three overs but Shardul Thakur got the better of him and then had Anamul Haque Bijoy, playing his first match after last December, caught by KL Rahul for 4.

The situation got worsened when Axar Patel removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who came as No. 5 batter for 13.

Shakib counterattacked as he always loved to do. Accompanied by Hridoy he put the Indian bowlers on sword as Bangladesh hit back in style.

Tahkur came back in his second spell to break through as he rattled the stump of Shakib after he smashed six fours and three sixes for his 85 ball-80 and shared a 101-run partnership with Hridoy.

The platform was set for Shamim Patwari but he continued his horror form as Ravidra Jadeja dismissed him for his 200th wicket.

The resistance came from an unlikely source as Nasum Ahmed came up with aggressive mood to ensure Bangladesh would end on a high, comparing to the other matches in the Super Four.

Shami in between took the wicket of Hridoy shortly after he brought his second successive half-century in the tournament. Hridoy hit five fours and two sixes for his 54 off 81 balls.

Thakur was the most successful bowler for India with 3-65 and Shami ended with 2-32.

Pacer Tanzim Sakib put the side in the driving seat, getting wicket in his second ball and that too the wicket of Rohit Sharma, one of the modern greats. He removed Rohit for duck in the second ball and then followed it up with the wicket of Tilak Verma as India were reduced to 17-2 in the third over.

With Shakib intelligently changing his bowlers, Bangladesh made regular inroads to keep India at bay. Amid the wickets tumbling, Gill, considered to be the next superstar of India, played with assured hands as he single-handedly put India into the game without any support from the others. 

Bangladesh spinners led by Shakib then sliced the middle order with the captain himself getting rid of Suryakuma Yadav (26)who looked threatening in his short stay.

Offspinner Mahedi Hasan who took 2-50 removed Gill after he made 133 ball-121 with eight fours and five sixes. India were then 57-run away from the victory with three wickets at hands.

But Axar Patel who made 34 ball-42 with three fours and two sixes kept the side afloat. However Mustafizur got him in the penultimate over to ruin India‍‍`s hope to win the game.