Bangladesh Defeat India By 6 Runs; Shubman Gill’s 121, Axar Patel Heroics Go In Vain
In an nail-biting contest, India was defeated by Bangladesh in the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s round at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Khettarama. Bangladesh emerged victorious by a slender margin of 6 runs, registering a first win over India after 11 years in Asia Cup history.
Though Shubman Gill gave a 121 and Axar Patel’s help the team surge with his quick 42, it wouldn’t deny the Indian cricket team a defeat. Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzim Hasan Sakib proved to be the heroes for Bangladesh, claiming three wickets each.
The day began with a crucial toss, and India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, elected to bowl first. The decision set the stage for an intense match between the two Asian powerhouses, with both teams looking to secure a pivotal victory in the tournament.
Bangladesh’s innings got off to a rocky start, with Litton Das and Anamul Haque falling cheaply. However, Shakib Al Hasan, steadied the ship with an impressive knock of 80 runs off 85 balls, including six boundaries and three sixes. Shakib received valuable support from Towhid Hridoy, who scored a resilient 54 runs off 81 deliveries, featuring five boundaries and two maximums. Nasum Ahmed (44 runs off 45 balls) and Mahedi Hasan (29 runs off 23 balls) also made notable contributions, ensuring Bangladesh reached a competitive total of 265/8 in their allotted 50 overs.
India’s bowling attack put up a commendable performance, with Shardul Thakur being the standout performer, claiming 3 wickets for 65 runs in his 10 overs. Mohammed Shami also contributed significantly, bagging 2 wickets for just 32 runs in his 8 overs. Axar Patel, Prasidh Krishna, and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with a wicket each.
Chasing a target of 266 runs, India faced an early setback as Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a duck. However, Shubman Gill emerged as the savior for his team, playing a magnificent innings of 121 runs off 133 balls, which included eight fours and five sixes. Despite his valiant effort, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Axar Patel‘s late surge, with a vital 42 runs off 34 balls, gave hope to the Indian side, but it was not enough to seal the win.
