When an unstoppable Rohit helped India storm into the World Cup semis – Almanack
Rohit Sharma extended his glorious run at the 2019 World Cup with a fluent hundred against Bangladesh – his fourth of the tournament to confirm India’s semi-final berth. Here’s Steven Lynch’s report from the 2020 Wisden Almanack.
Bangladesh v India
Match 40, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019
Edgbaston, Birmingham
July 2, 2019
In front of a sea of national flags, India rubber-stamped their semi-final place and eliminated Bangladesh. On the ground where his side had managed a single six to England’s 13 two days earlier, Rohit Sharma hoisted one in the first over, and another in the sixth. By then he had been badly dropped, on nine, by Tamim Iqbal at deep mid-wicket. As against England, Sharma took full advantage of the early reprieve, hitting his fourth century of the World Cup; he heaved three more sixes while putting on 180 with Rahul.
When they were parted in the 30th over, a massive total looked likely, but Bangladesh clawed their way back. Kohli perished on the boundary he had labelled too short against England, ending a sequence of five fifties; and although Pant clattered 48, there were three wickets in the final over – one a run-out – as Mustafizur Rahman finished with five.
Tamim looked determined to make up for his fielding error, but dragged on in the tenth, then Kohli questioned the umpires after India lost their review following an lbw appeal: it was unclear whether Soumya Sarkar had got an inside edge. Four overs later, Soumya drove straight to extra cover: Kohli caught it, raised a finger, and mouthed “Out!”
Also deceived by a tricky surface, Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das followed sumptuous boundaries with simple catches, and Bangladesh looked done for when Shakib Al Hasan went after a calm 66, a second sitter for Karthik, making his World Cup debut nearly 15 years after his first one-day international.
Sabbir Rahman and Mohammad Saifuddin put on 66, creaming Mohammed Shami for four fours in an over, but Bumrah returned to soothe any Indian nerves, rolling his fingers across a series of pitch-perfect yorkers, including two from the game’s final two deliveries.
First published in the 2020 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack
