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Watch: Bangladesh beat India by six runs in the last Super Fours match of the 2023 Asia Cup. Watch the IND vs BAN highlights.
The match was of little consequence, for both India and Sri Lanka had booked berths at the final of the 2023 Asia Cup. India, thus, made five changes, including an ODI cap to Tilak Varma. Bangladesh, too, had a debutant, Tanzim Sakib, and were without Mushfiqur Rahim.
Asked to bat at R Premadasa Stadium, Bangladesh ran into early trouble despite India’s poor catching. They became 28-3, then 59-4, before Shakib Al Hasan (80 in 85 balls, six fours, three sixes) and Towhid Hridoy (54 in 81 balls, five fours, two sixes) added 101.
At 193-7, India seemed to have regained their advantage, but Nasum Ahmed (44 in 45 balls, six fours, one six) stayed put before Mahedi Hasan and Tanzim added an unbroken 27 in 16 balls. Bangladesh finished with 265-8 as Mohammed Shami returned 2-32 and Shardul Thakur 3-65.
Tanzim’s excellent debut (2-32) continued as he took out captain Rohit Sharma and Tilak with his first 10 balls to reduce India to 17-2. Once the spinners came on, India slipped further, to 94-4.
As wickets fell at the other end, Shubman Gill kept the Indian hopes alive with a batting masterclass, with outstanding footwork against both pace and spin. He hit eight fours and five sixes, and some of these were astonishing strokes.
Gill was eventually seventh to be dismissed, off Mahedi (2-50) for a 133-ball 121, on 209. Axar Patel (42 in 34 balls, three fours, two sixes) now assumed charge, and India still had three wickets in hand when they needed 17 in 12 balls.
Mustafizur Rahman (3-50) then took out both Shardul Thakur and Axar in a five-run over. Entrusted with the last over, Tanzim beat Shami thrice, but Shami whacked the fourth ball to the mid-wicket fence. Off the fifth, he was run out while attempting a second run.
