Virat Kohli turned the very best run-scorer in Twenty20 World Cup history on Wednesday as India edged Bangladesh by five runs in a crunch rain-hit conflict in Adelaide that went to the final ball.
WATCH | VIRAT KOHLI FUMES AT ‘INVASION OF PRIVACY’ AFTER HOTEL ROOM VIDEO
India go high of Group 2 and might clinch a semi-final spot with a win in opposition to Zimbabwe of their closing Group 2 match on Sunday after Bangladesh faltered of their revised chase of 151 in 16 overs.
Kohli’s unbeaten 64 had steered India to 184-6 however Bangladesh had regarded on the right track for victory after racing to 66-0 in seven overs when rain stopped play inflicting 4 overs to be misplaced.
‘Good day with the bat’ – Virat Kohli
Opener Liton Das hit a 27-ball 60 however his run out after the 50-minute interruption heralded a Bangladesh collapse and ended on 145-6.
MUST READ | FAF DU PLESSIS SLAMS MARK BOUCHER, GRAEME SMITH IN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
“It was another good day with the bat I guess,” stated Kohli who’s again to his greatest after enduring a protracted fallow kind interval.
“I was trying to play myself into the innings. I’m just in a happy space, I don’t want to compare anything. What’s in the past is in the past,” he stated.
Needing 20 off the ultimate over, Nurul Hasan gave them hope with a six and a 4 however left-arm fast Arshdeep Singh held his nerve on the final ball at hand India their third win in 4 matches.
It leaves Bangladesh all however out of the semi-finals image.
ALSO READ | MARK BOUCHER APPOINTED NEW MUMBAI INDIANS COACH
“It’s been the story when we play India,” lamented captain Shakib Al Hasan.
“We’re almost there but don’t cross the line. It was a great game, the crowd enjoyed, both teams enjoyed, in the end someone has to win and someone has to lose.”
Das gave the workforce a blazing begin, reaching his fifty in 21 balls, however as soon as he fell to KL Rahul’s direct hit India got here roaring again.
ALSO READ | THE PROTEAS HAVE A NEW COACH!
Arshdeep struck twice in a single over together with the prize of captain Shakib Al Hasan for 13 to show the tables.
Hardik Pandya took two wickets within the thirteenth over as Bangladesh slumped from 98-2 to 108-6 and regardless of Hasan’s 14-ball 25, fell quick.
“Liton is batting really well, probably he’s our best batsman going around,” stated Shakib.
“We thought we could chase this down after that start.”
‘Grinning from ear to ear’
It was Kohli, who hit an unbeaten 64, and KL Rahul with a blazing 50 that arrange India’s victory with a stand of 67.
In the method, Kohli overtook former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene’s complete of 1,016 runs to turn into the very best scorer in T20 World Cup history. Jayawardene set his mark from 31 innings however Kohli took solely 23 to move him.
“As soon as I knew the World Cup was in Australia, I was grinning from ear to ear,” stated Kohli, who clearly loves batting on the quicker wickets.
“I knew good cricketing shots would be the key. I knew the kind of experience and game awareness of having played in Australia will come in handy for the team.”
Kohli, who had already hit two match-winning half-centuries at this World Cup, reached his third fifty in 37 balls to deliver alive the Indian-dominated crowd on the Adelaide Oval.
“I absolutely love playing in this ground,” stated Kohli.
“It’s like I’m meant to come to Adelaide and enjoy my batting.”
Rohit Sharma went cheaply for 2 after Bangladesh elected to discipline however Rahul went on the counter-attack to regain his batting contact with a flurry of boundaries.
Rahul, who had scored simply 22 runs within the earlier three matches, smashed two sixes and a 4 in a 24-run ninth over. He reached 50 off Shakib however fell on the following ball from the left-arm spinner after hitting three fours and 4 sixes.
Suryakumar Yadav joined Kohli to maintain up the assault, nonchalantly hitting the ball to all elements earlier than Shakib struck once more when he had made 30 off 16 balls.
Kohli anchored the innings and Ravichandran Ashwin loved himself in a six-ball cameo for 13 that included a six and 4 within the closing over.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
