Dinesh Karthik’s last-ball six sinks Bangladesh as India win Nidahas Trophy

Bangladesh were on the cusp of breaking their T20 hoodoo against India in the Nidahas Trophy T20 tri-series final on Sunday. Vijay Shankar (17) and Manish Pandey (28) were struggling and the asking rate had mounted.

India needed 34 off 12 balls and it looked like a lost cause. Pandey’s departure though brought Dinesh Karthik at No 7. Rubel Hossain, who had picked 2/13 in three overs, was about to bowl the 19th over. (IND vs BAN HIGHLIGHTS)

What followed was a masterclass from Karthik which changed the complexion of the game. The India wicketkeeper got off the mark by blasting a low full toss over long on for six and followed it up with a powerful blow to long on for four. The batsman hammered another length ball over deep mid wicket for his second six and ended the over with a scoop to the fine leg fence. With 22 runs coming off Bangladesh’s best bowler, India’s hopes rose. (IND vs BAN SCORECARD)

In the final over bowled by Soumya Sarkar, Vijay Shankar squeezed a boundary off the fourth ball but fell as India were left needing five off the last ball. However, Karthik demonstrated his finishing ability and carved a full ball high over sweeper cover for his third six to seal the match.

Bangladesh, asked to bat first by Rohit Sharma, had scored 166/8 and India finished on 168/6.

(Read | Rohit Sharma fifty helps India beat Bangladesh, win Nidahas Trophy)

Karthik’s eight-ball 29, after Rohit Sharma’s 14thfifty (56 off 42 balls) helped India prolong Bangladesh’s agony in T20s at the Premadasa Stadium.

Rohit fifty, India stutter

Chasing 167, India made a blazing start with Rohit Sharma starting aggressively with two sixes and a four off Mehedi Hasan. Bangladesh fought back by getting rid of Shikhar Dhawan (29) and Suresh Raina (0). Rohit was joined by KL Rahul and the pair steadied the innings, with the stand-in skipper targeting Nazmul Hasan with a four and six to close in on his milestone.

(Read | Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni proposed A+ category in BCCI central contract list: Vinod Rai)

The 51-run stand was broken by Rubel with Rahul miscuing a pull to Sabbir Rahman at deep square leg. With Rahul’s dismissal, Bangladesh had found an opening and did not concede a single boundary for the next 29 balls. In that period, Nazmul dismissed Rohit for 56 and the Bangladesh players did the Naagin dance sensing a famous win.

Shankar and Pandey struck some crucial boundaries as the asking rate mounted. Mustafizur bowled a wicket-maiden in the 18th over, but Karthik had other ideas.

Sabbir fifty boosts Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s highest-ever T20 total against India was made possible due to Sabbir Rahman’s fourth fifty. Bangladesh were undone by spinners Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal in the powerplay as they were left reeling at 40/3.

Sabbir and Mahmudullah steadied the ship. In the death overs, the 26-year-old Bangladesh batsman upped the ante, blasting two sixes off Shankar and following it up with two fours off Shardul Thakur, a glide to third man and a scoop over short fine leg. Mehedi Hasan struck two fours and a six off Thakur in the final over as 84 runs came in the last eight overs.

Sadly, Sabbir’s (77) effort went in vain as India made it 8-0 in T20s against Bangladesh.