Nidahas Trophy 2018: 5th T20I, Bangladesh vs India: Five Game-Changing Moments

The 5th game of the Nidahas Trophy saw India and Bangladesh clash at Premadasa Stadium. India, powered by the knock from out of form Rohit Sharma went on to post an above par total of 176.

Bangladesh, in reply, tottered towards the total throughout. Even heroics from Mushfiqur Rahim wasn’t enough as India won the match by 17 runs.

With this win, the men in blue progress into the finals of the Nidahas Trophy, while Sri Lanka and Bangladesh clash in a virtual semi-final to decide the other finalist from the tournament. Let us look at the five game-changing moments.

1. Rohit Sharma’s return to form

Since the beginning of 2018, India’s captain in the Nidahas Trophy has been woefully out of form. The pressure was mounting on Rohit Sharma for a contribution to show for.

However, in this match, Rohit delivered the good for his side by seeing through the entire 20 overs. Sharma scored a brisk 61-ball 89, glittered with five boundaries and maximums. Rohit now has hit the most number sixes for India in T20Is.

2. Suresh Raina asserts his dominance

Raina carried on from his shot-a-ball approach in recent T20Is for India and compiled a crucial 30-ball 47, at a fabulous strike rate of 156. Raina entertained the spectators with five boundaries and a couple of enormous hits over the ropes.

In partnership with his captain at the other end, the two added 102 off just 56 deliveries, to take the game away further from Bangladesh after the 70-run opening partnership.

3. Abu Hider’s 18th over

After the end of 12th overs, India added just 84 runs to the scoreboard at a rate of 7 rpo. The last eight overs of the Indian innings yielded 92 runs at a run rate of 11.5.

Rookie Abu Hider’s over itself cost 21 runs for the Tigers. This led to Bangladesh chasing at least 15 more than par at the surface presented at Colombo. In the 18th over, Rohit hit a couple of sixes in the over while Raina smashed another to add insult to injury.

4. Spin Tangle with the new ball

India had few tricks up their sleeves with Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal bowling with the new ball. Bangladesh went off to the worst possible start as they lost four major batsmen within the first 9 overs.

The Tigers had no answer to Sundar who picked up three big wickets during the phase. Chahal picked up the wicket Mahmudullah who was just beginning to flex his muscles.

5. Mushfiqur Rahim’s onslaught

With his team at peril yet again, Bangladesh’s quintessential wicket-keeper batsman continued from where he left off Sri Lanka in a thrilling run chase. With him at the crease, India remained in a spot of bother as Rahim smashed an unbeaten 72 off 55 deliveries.

The Pocket-size dynamite was all set to repeat his heroics from the Sri Lankan game. In the end, Bangladesh left themselves too much to do in the last over as India won by a margin of 17 runs.