Bangladesh are tasting a 50-run defeat against India in the T20WC Super 8 match

Bangladesh put up a lethargic performance to taste a 50-run defeat against India in their do or die match in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Saturday.

The defeat, their consecutive second at this stage, ruined their hopes of reaching the semi-finals for the first time in the tournament’s history, BSS reports.

India posted a mammoth 196-5 and Bangladesh held on at 146-8 thanks to some fantastic bowling. Thanks to the victory, they took a big step towards the semi-finals of yet another ICC tournament.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav led the charge with 3-19 from four overs, while fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was unplayable as usual even in a good batting throw as he scalped 2-13 from four overs.

Pacer Arshdeep Sing returned figures of 2-30 and Hardik Pandya, who shot 27 ball-50 not out with the willow, finished with 1-32.

For Bangladesh, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was the top scorer with 40, hitting one four and three sixes from 32 balls. Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim made 29 and Rishad Hossain hit an entertaining 10-ball 24.

But Bangladesh went nowhere from the start of the chase as they were well below par in terms of runs demanded.

After taking the side to a respectable total, Pandya made the breakthrough with the wicket of Liton Das (13), who was stunned by the slower delivery and threw the ball straight to Suryakumar Yadav.

Kuldeep strangled Bangladesh, varying his pace well and confusing the batters with crafty googling that was difficult to read.

He dismissed Tanzid and Towhid Hridoy (2) in his successive two overs to leave Bangladesh 66-3. Shakib Al Hasan tried to curb his dominance by hitting him for a six, but Kuldeep took sweet revenge by getting rid of the ace all-rounder and changing his pace well.

Bumrah then returned for his second spell to dismiss Shanto before ending Rishad’s powerful innings, varying his length cleverly.

Arshdeep Singh also had his say when he dismissed Mahmudullah in the penultimate delivery of the innings as Bangladesh tasted a major defeat.

Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma batted first and gave India a fluent start before Shakib Al Hasan broke through with the latter’s wicket for his 50th wicket in T20 World Cup history.

After doing this, he became the first bowler in the tournament’s history to take 50 wickets.

Rohit made 23 off 11, while Kohli gave a glimpse of return to form with a 28-ball 37 that was studded with one four and three sixes.

Pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib removed Kohli and then took the prized scalp of Suryakumar Yadav for 6 to finish with 2-32.

Tanzim’s double gave India a tricky 77-3 ninth place finish, but India’s middle order remained unfazed. The likes of Rishab Pant and Shivam Dube kept hitting everything and throwing at them impeccably, leaving Bangladesh bowlers in disarray.

They were particularly harsh on leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, who had been the most successful bowler for the team in the previous matches. But the young leggy saw the other side of the coin against a quality striking attack. He finished with two wickets but conceded 43 runs in three overs.

Rishab Pant made 34 while Shivam Dube scored 34 at a strike rate of over 140 and set the platform for Hardik Pandya.

Pandya responded aggressively, hitting four fours and three sixes in his 27 ball-50 to help the side edge closer to 200.

Bangladesh will take on Afghanistan in their final match of the Super 8 in St Lucia on Tuesday, a slow pitch that would suit their bowling attack.