Megastar Virat Kohli hit fresh heights as India vanquished Bangladesh by five runs in a rain-interrupted high-stakes T20 World Cup game.
The Indians made 6-184 in Wednesday night’s Adelaide Oval fixture as Kohli became the highest run-scorer in T20 cup history.
Bangladesh were on course for a famous upset at 0-66 after seven hours before a rain delay stalled their momentum. When they returned, their revised target was 151 from just 16 overs but they fell just short after needing 20 to win off the last over.
Opener Litton Das belted 60 off just 27 deliveries while Nurul Hasan nearly pulled off an unlikely win with a massive six in the final over as part of his cameo of 25 off 14.
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With one match remaining now for India, all they need to do is beat Zimbabwe on Sunday to advance to the semis.
Virat Kohli. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)
Wednesday night’s win move India to six points, taking top spot in the group from South Africa (five points) who have a game in hand.
The Bangladeshis need to upset Pakistan on Sunday and hope the South Africans slip up when they meet Pakistan on Thursday and the Netherlands on Sunday.
Kohli made an unbeaten 64 from 44 balls and now has 1065 runs in 25 cup innings, surpassing Sri Lankan great Mahela Jayawardene’s record of 1016 runs from 31 knocks.
The Indian dynamo has also now scored the most runs in this cup – 220 runs at an average of 220, after previous scores of 82 not out, 62 not out and 12.
His latest feat also extended his love affair with Adelaide Oval – Kohli averages 75.58 with five tons and three half-centuries in Tests, one-dayers and T20s.
Kohli featured in an explosive 67-run stand with KL Rahul, who blasted four sixes in smacking 50 from 32 balls, while Suryakumar Yadav made 30 from 16 deliveries.
Stuckbetweenindopak
Roar Rookie
Why would someone fake his/her Kashmiri identity on an Australian sports blog website? Huge problem with many Indians is they think world is centred around India. No one gives a f about third world india, kashmir, or pakistan not even in middle east deserts, let alone in the west. By the way Indian Kashmiris don’t have a problem with india, but it is a cultural thing to have have sympathies with pakistan particularly when ut comes to cricket. This is because of 80s, 90s scenario and since imran Khan’s 1992 success during the peak of insurgency the whole of the valley started becoming fans of pakistani team. The trend continued. People finally realised that India is were their good future lies but continued there fanship with pakistan. India a proud democracy should have been cool with it, but it rather acts as a crybaby and keeps charging Kashmiris with anti national acts just for being a particular sports team fans. Actually our India hasnt matured yet democratically and still is in the cradle with nappies on
Sedz
Guest
It’s been clearly mentioned in the post match conversation that umpires sought both captains feedback and said this is what we gonna do. Shakib also accepted that advantage was with them given that rain will hamper fielding and bowling efforts. But there is one team that went with a morale to win game whereas Bangladesh went to stop the game. And also stop faking yourself as a Indian Kashmiri, there are umpteen ways to prove if you are really one. Shall we do that?
Kalva
Roar Rookie
The umpires have obviously been given a directive to stay out there for as long as possible when it is raining and to go back on as soon as possible when it stops. That is why they went back on for India- Bangladesh...why they tried to squeezed a result out of the appalling conditions for the Zim-SA match and why they kept playing during the Pakistan inns vs SA at the SCG when conditions were worse than they were for the India match. For so long, we have complained that umpires are ridiculous in not wanting play to go on and now we are seeing a change in attitudes, I for one applaud it. It has nothing to do with BCCI plots.
Stuckbetweenindopak
Roar Rookie
My sympathies lie with the spirit of the sport. And I never said India lost deliberately against South Africa, that would be quite a childish claim. I don’t hate India, I like the country, it’s people, I have no trouble calling myself an Indian. Although since Indian team (bcci) is a strong team, in all senses, i tend to defend the weaker sides and would like to see fair competition and unbiased refreeing of the sport as a cricket fan. India is a brilliant side and it is frustrating to see them act as cry babies and alway as try to take advantage of their huge financial prowess over other playing nations. Also trying to mould the governing body of the sport in every possible aspect is so distasteful, classless, immature and appalling.
Stuckbetweenindopak
Roar Rookie
Harder or not, resumption was there only chance. The problem is it resumed prematurely, and Shakib's concerns were overlooked. Normally umpires would err on the cautious side when it is a wet outfield, why not follow the norm when your blue-eyed boys are out there?
Brasstax
Guest
Stop wasting your time by trying to reason with him. You know where his sympathies lie. According to Porkis and their supporters, everything is India's fault and/or conspiracy. According to them, India deliberately lost to SA and conspired with the umpires to defeat Bangladesh. Thank God he did not accuse the BCCI of buying rain.
Kalva
Roar Rookie
Sorry but disagree. The team most disadvantaged were India as it is much harder to field, keep your footing and bowl with a wet ball. And Litton played superbly but he didn't slip going for a run...he slipped the ball before and no other batsman slipped. The conditions were far better than during the SA-Zim game which was finally stopped due to the pouring rain. Bangladesh were unlucky but there was no robbery here.
Brasstax
Guest
Good job doing randi rona.
Sedz
Guest
I thought u stopped watching cricket. Why coming back again and again to say Bye Bye.
Stuckbetweenindopak
Roar Rookie
I ll say RIP CRICKET again. Bangladesh robbed in daylight. Everything was super hastened when ICC realised their masters are falling off short on DL score and match resumed with wet outfield atleast an hour earlier than it should have. It was so wet that to keep their fielders above the ground India had to engage extra men on the line to wipe muck off their shoes. Post resumption Bangladesh immediately payed the price when it’s most dominating and set batter slipped, hurted himself, slipped again and got runout. This is an absolute mockery of the sport. ICC an obvious sellout can’t do anything, ECB and ACB are hesitant to intervene. It is better to bid goodbye to this circus.