India confirm semi-final place with Bangladesh win

AFP - Rohit Sharma hit his fourth century of the World Cup as India defeated Bangladesh by 28 runs at Edgbaston yesterday.

India after electing to bat first posted a challenging 314 for nine from their 50 overs and then bowled out their opponents for 286 in 48 overs. Shakib al Hasan hit a top score of 66 while Jasprit Bumrah (4/55) and Hardik Pandya (3/60) shared seven wickets between them.  

Sharma and opening partner K. L. Rahul put on 180 runs - the highest stand for the first wicket in the tournament - to get India off to a flying start.

But Bangladesh paceman Mustafizur Rahman claimed five wickets, including the prized scalp of Skipper Virat Kohli for 26, to check India’s surge and keep them in the game. Sharma, who was dropped on nine by Tamim Iqbal at deep mid-wicket, reached his second successive ton with a single off Shakib al Hasan, celebrating by flipping his bat in the air. Rahul, who assumed an opener’s slot following an injury to Shikhar Dhawan, was caught behind off Rubel Hossain for 77.

Mustafizur struck twice in the space of three balls to remove Kohli and Hardik Pandya. Pant once again showed his worth in the number four position with a brisk 48, using the short boundary on one side of the ground to his advantage.

But India managed just 35 runs in the last five overs and lost four wickets including three in Mustafizur’s final over.

India: 314/9 in 50 overs (K. Rahul 77, R. Sharma 104, V. Kohli 26, R. Pant 48, M. Dhoni 35, M. Rahman 5/59) 

Bangladesh: 286 in 48 overs (T. Iqbal 22, S. Sarkar 33, S. al Hasan 66, M. Rahim 24, L. Das 22, S. Rahman 36, M. Saifuddin 51 n.o, J. Bumrah 4/55, H. Pandya 3/60).