Unbeaten India defeat Bangladesh to close in on semi-final berth

India moved closer to a T20 World Cup semi-final with a comprehensive 50-run win over Bangladesh in a Super Eight Group 1 match on Saturday.

At the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua, all-rounder Hardik Pandya smashed a 27-ball fifty to lead India to 196-5, their highest score in a low-scoring tournament.

Bangladesh were never really in the chase and only managed 146-8 in response, falling to their second Group 1 defeat and on the verge of elimination.

"There was a strong breeze out there so I wanted to make the most of that when I was batting and then not let them use it when I was bowling," player-of-the-match Pandya said afterwards. "It was about being one step ahead of the batter."

India will face Australia in their final Group 1 match on Monday, but both will advance to the last four if Australia defeat Afghanistan later on Saturday.

Bangladesh chose to field and began with spin from both ends, but abandoned the strategy after the first two overs yielded 23 runs and no wickets.

Shakib Al Hasan took the brunt of the attack, but redeemed himself by breaking India's 39-run opening stand between Rohit Sharma (23) and stalwart Virat Kohli (37).

Rohit offered a skyer to perish, but Kohli smashed three sixes before Tanzim Hasan sparked a mini-collapse in the eventful ninth over.

The pacer splattered Kohli's stumps, had his next ball hit for a six by Suryakumar Yadav, and was celebrating the wicket of India's number three batter with the next delivery.

Rishabh Pant (36) and Shivam Dube (34) overcame slow starts before stepping up the pace, but it was Pandya who provided the late flourish with an unbeaten 50 off 27 balls, propelling India close to 200.

Pandya returned to break the opening stand as Bangladesh began their chase.

The seamer caught Litton Das in the deep, and spinner Kuldeep Yadav took three quick wickets to effectively derail Bangladesh's chase.

Tanzid Hasan (29) and Towhid Hridoy (4) were both lbw to the left-arm wrist spinner, who also removed Shakib and finished with 3-19.

Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (40) attempted to revive their chase, but after Jasprit Bumrah removed him, India, who are undefeated in the tournament, won the match.

"As a group, we can definitely still improve," Pandya said. "We have lost wickets in bunches a few times and that is something that we would like to rectify."

"Otherwise, everyone's looking good and working hard and the mindset is good. We are excited for what is to come."

SportsLigue