India vs Bangladesh, Highlights, Champions Trophy 2017 semi-final, cricket result: Kohli's men register easy win, advance into final

Watch our cricket expert Ayaz Memom analyse India’s batting as they closed in on the final berth against Bangladesh in the 2017 Champions Trophy. 

Bangladesh captain, Mashrafe Mortaza: Obviously we could have got to 300-320. Once Kedar (Jadhav) came in, he restricted us. We have some experienced players as well who would come in strongly next time but we need to be mentally strong. Skill wise we are fine. Once, you are playing a game like this, you need to be mentally strong.

India captain, Virat Kohli: Absolutely, we had another complete game. When we won the toss, I expected another clean performance. With the ball, we never let them away. The two quick wickets got us the momentum. (On his approach while batting) I always try to give myself sometime. Today was an opportunity for me to play the way I can. Credit to Rohit and to Shikhar as well. Hopefully, they can give us another good start in the finals. The side that gets less excited and has more composure will win the finals. We are very keen to get on the park for the final. It is never a worry when the guys in the middle order are not batting. Everybody is hitting the ball really well in the nets.

Rohit Sharma, Man of the Match: Yeah, was a great knock, especially when it comes on a winning note. Trying to get a big one, in the last two games. Was quite determined today. Wicket was brilliant. I kept telling myself to bat as much as possible. We’ve been playing good cricket. One last hurdle, a big game against Pakistan. It felt like he (Virat Kohli) was batting overnight. As a captain, he was brilliant.

Asian finals in ICC ODI events:

Ind v SL, Colombo, CT 2002
Ind v SL, Mumbai, WC 2011
Pak v Ind, Kennington Oval, CT 2017

Most appearances in finals of ICC events for teams:

10 – Australia 
9 – INDIA* 
8 – West Indies 

Most appearances in finals for players in ICC events:

7 – YUVRAJ SINGH*
6 – Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting

Power play number three, just to gild the lily a bit. Sabbir with his all sorts, and Virat punches the first ball of the over through cover, easy stroke, and India have reached the target with 9.5 overs and 9 wickets to spare.

I’d thought Bangladesh was 50 short, but seeing this margin of victory, that looks like it needs to be revised to 100 short. India rolled Bangladesh over in the warm up game, but this win easily shades that one in sheer all-round dominance, barring a period of play till about the 25th over of the first innings where Bangladesh remained competitive.

So that then is that. India through to the finals, and sets up a rematch with a remodelled, retooled Pakistan in London on Sunday.

That’s it for Bangladesh, they were totally outclassed by India in the end, but they can be very proud of how they’ve performed in this tournament, nobody really expected them to get past the group stage, but they’ve ended up in their first global tournament semi-finals. India v Pakistan in the final then, should be a cracker.

After 40 overs,India 261/1 ( Rohit Sharma 123 , Virat Kohli (C) 92)

Shakib continues, Virat strokes a single. Doesn’t seem particularly fussed about manufacturing a route to the hundred. Rohit chips one more off the target. It is almost as if the bowler has been reduced to an irrelevance; these two are doing whatever they feel like doing. Virat single, Rohit single, both on the on side. Single — the fifth in the over — has Virat keeping strike.

Youngest players to score 8000 runs in ODIs:

26y 45d – Sachin Tendulkar 
28y 222d – VIRAT KOHLI* 
29y 102d – Yuvraj Singh

Fastest to score 8000 runs in ODIs: (by innings):

175 – VIRAT KOHLI*
182 – AB de Villiers 
200 – Sourav Ganguly

After 39 overs,India 256/1 ( Rohit Sharma 121 , Virat Kohli (C) 89)

Sabbir Ahmed gets a go now. And a nothing ball pitched halfway down the track starts things off, Virat stands up and pulls high and over midwicket one bounce into the fence.

Drives, takes one, and that marks his 8000th one day international run, the quickest batsman in ODi history to that mark. The crowd is ecstatic; Virat not even mildly interested, flashes a halfhearted thumbs up and runs back to the batting end as Virat works the single. Calmly strokes a run in his turn. India need 10, Virat needs 11.

After 38 overs,India 249/1 ( Rohit Sharma 120 , Virat Kohli (C) 83)

Shakib plugging away. Rohit cuts, finds point. Cuts again, beats point and finds a run. And Virat choses the next ball to play his first proper forward defensive shot. Follows up by hopping deep in his crease to alter length, and flicking fine as the ball slides to leg, four to fine leg. Follow up, single to mid off. 

You don’t actually want to say this about India chasing, but this is actually getting boring. Rohit adds to the boredom by smacking Shakib — no foot movement even, this time, just stand and hit — over the covers and into the boundary for a four to end the over, and also end any question of Virat getting to 100. 16 more to get.

After 37 overs,India 239/1 ( Rohit Sharma 115 , Virat Kohli (C) 78)

Taskin stays outside off, short to start with and Virat lashes it up and over point for four. Then reaches a long way to guide one to third man. Taskin tries a bouncer, Rohit — he is batting on 110 for god’s sake — eases his weight back and pulls, controlling the shot and placing it wide of square leg for four. The next ball is dragged from wide of off into the midwicket region, in the air but short of the fielder, single to get Virat back on strike, 22 short of his own hundred. Just 26 more to get though, so unless Rohit cooperates by playing out a few maidens, Virat will end short of what could have been his 16th hundred in a winning chase.

It just hasn’t been Bangladesh’s day, they haven’t been able to find an answer to the brilliance of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for India and are on their way out of the tournament. Their fans are still cheering loudly, but being drowned out by the Indian supporters delighted at seeing their team on the way to the final.

Rohit Sharma becomes the sixth Indian player to hit 200 sixes in international cricket. The others are MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni.

After 36 overs,India 229/1 ( Rohit Sharma 110 , Virat Kohli (C) 73)

Shakib continues. 34 in his six overs thus far, which qualifies almost as brilliance given the performance of his mates on the day. As the two keep milking the bowling with the steady drip drip of singles, the commentary team showing visuals of the Virat Kohli cover drive to demonstrate how low he gets to the ball, how close his head is to the ball as it gets to him. All true, and all part of why he plays that shot with such impeccable skill — but there is also this: watch the bat through the shot and you realise another facet of his skill. The cover drive is an arm extension into the line of the ball but in Virat’s case, there is a snap of the wrist as bat meets ball that adds precise placement to the power and timing.

If cricket had a concept like boxing’s RSC –Referee Stops Contest, this match would have been called off long ago. Bangladesh have been totally outclassed. The batsmen, Rohit and Kohli are toying with the bowling, picking up runs at will. The contest looks so lopsided that every Bangladesh supporter watching this match on TV or in person would have realised by now that their team in not a patch on this Indian team. Talk of chasm in standards!

Just formalities left in this match. The Bangladesh boys are completely down and out. Their bowlers just couldn’t make any impact in the match. These are perfect batting conditions. It was a good toss to win for Kohli, isn’t it?

After 35 overs,India 224/1 ( Rohit Sharma 108 , Virat Kohli (C) 70)

Taskin comes back. Still that full length and wide of off, but now not even the pretense of looking for wickets, since there is no one catching close. Rohit was watching Virat closely, apparently — in his turn, plays an easy punched drive down the ground of the type Virat played so well a couple of times, same result, gets the four. Taksin overpitched that one, and after watching Rohit deal with it, goes back to his mark berating himself. Then turns around and bowls wide of off, Rohit cover drives, gets a single. Six in the over, the target now 41 more to get.

After 34 overs,India 218/1 ( Rohit Sharma 103 , Virat Kohli (C) 69)

Until nerves kicked in with the century some 15-20 runs away, Rohit has looked in prime form through this innings. Even his usual early vulnerabilities around that off channel did not show up today, and his shots either side of the wicket were authoritative, almost always effortless. He’s been the junior partner to Shikhar through this edition, and this century should give him the right mood to take into the final, which India now is certain to make.

Meanwhile we are back — and as if Kohli needs any help, Fizz escorts a Kohli cover drive to the boundary, bungling a stop off a fluid cover drive.

Gets another one tossed up, drives again, this time picks the fielder out and gets just one for it. Shakib gets the next one to turn from line of off and Rohit defends, then rocks back to the next one and drives off the back foot, gets one to end the over. 48 more to get, in 16 overs, at about 2.9 per over.

FOUR! Kohli drives the second delivery of the over towards deep extra-cover, where the fielder running in from long-off fails to stop the ball from crossing over. India 216/1

Most centuries in a country in international cricket:

1000 – ENGLAND*

994 – Australia 

701 – India

Rohit Sharma becomes the second Indian player to score a century in ICC ODI tournament’s semi-final match after Sourav Ganguly.

After 33 overs,India 212/1 ( Rohit Sharma 102 , Virat Kohli (C) 64)

Rohit a boundary hit away from a century, Fizz takes the ball back from Taskin and Virat plays one of those superb short arm punches to a length ball angled across, placing it perfectly through mid off, leaving the fielder standing. He is in a mood today, is Virat, this is the best he has batted in this tournament, by a considerable distance. And you know this how? When he is in rude batting health, he opens up to off side shots a lot earlier in the program, and today he has hit the majority of his fours through that region; every shot pure class.

Fizz goes short. Rohit hooks. Fine leg races across and dives headlong but can’t get to that, that is the four, also Rohit’s century. And as it turns out on the replay, the ball hit the rope on the full, so it’s a six to bring up the 100.

Also, drinks, thank you god. Be back soon.

Tremendous self belief shown by all three Indian batsmen. Rohit carrying on in the same gear, leaving it to the more adventurous Virat Kohli  to smash the bowling around. Kohli and Rohit seem too good for this Bangladesh bowling attack on this flat pitch. Not a single bowler has been able to make an impression on them. Their partnership has effectively killed Bangladesh’s hopes. India should win around the 40th over. The power and timing of Kohli’s strokes are awesome. No wonder he is racing at more than a run a ball. Rohit is slower and more circumspect. But he has a role to play and he is doing it to perfection. Rohit’s 11th hundred could not have come at a more ideal time. What a performance!

Rohit Sharma in ODIs:

Before ICC CT 2013: 2 centuries from 88 innings 

Since ICC CT 2013: 9 centuries from 69 innings

Most centuries in ICC ODI events’ knockout matches:

3 – Sourav Ganguly, Saeed Anwar, Ricky Ponting 

2 – Mahela Jayawardene, Shane Watson, ROHIT SHARMA*

CENTURY FOR ROHIT SHARMA! He brings it up with a hook towards the fine-leg boundary, where a diving fielder can do little to prevent it from landing directly on the padded cushion! What a way for him to bring up the milestone! Takes 111 deliveries to get to the milestone, hitting 12 fours and a six. India 212/1

FOUR! Mustafizur returns to the attack, and Kohli pats this one down the ground, hitting on the up! India 205/1

After 32 overs,India 201/1 ( Rohit Sharma 96 , Virat Kohli (C) 59)

Shakib to Rohit. Good work by the bowler, keeping it tigit around the off. Rohit manoeuvres a  single of the third ball and Virat sneaks one off the last ball, but it was tight, controlled, sensible bowling — pity he can’t bowl at both ends, I suppose.

After 31 overs,India 198/1 ( Rohit Sharma 95 , Virat Kohli (C) 57)

Mahmudullah gets a go now. Starts by dragging one down, a rank long hop and a happy Rohit goes low to pull that square through the gap for four. See what I mean about there being no pressure at the other end?

Having gotten his four, Rohit quite content to play straight for a couple of balls. Mahmudullah drags it down again and Rohit goes low to pull again, this time to the sweeper but gets one.

And then Virat shows how it is done — one of those long strides onto the front foot, the back foot staying parked on that leg stump, and hitting through the line, the bat coming down very close to the body, through extra cover, four. Such simplicity in that shot; such majesty, too.

So whatever the point of Mahmudullah being given the ball, all that happens is 10 runs accrue.

FOUR! Seventh boundary for Kohli in the current innings, driving it towards sweeper cover with a beautiful roll of the wrists! India 197/1

FOUR! Mahmudullah is introduced into the attack in the 31st over, and Rohit greets him with a pull towards the deep square-leg boundary! India 192/1

After 30 overs,India 188/1 ( Rohit Sharma 90 , Virat Kohli (C) 52)

Shakib resumes. Outside off, turning a bit further away and Rohit square drives, gets one. that’s better all he has to do is keep rolling the strike over till he is feeling good again. Virat strokes one to mid off and that is the 100 up for the second wicket off 89. Fairly even contributions — 52 from Virat, 48 from Rohit. And at that point, 77 shy of the target.

Shakib is bowling tight lines and more importantly, refusing to give the Indian batsmen freebies through errors of length and line — but it is all coming a bit too late, and further, for this to be effective you need equal pressure at the other end, which is not happening.

The hundred-partnership is up between Rohit and Kohli n the 30th over, with the duo taking 89 deliveries to bring up the milestone! The batting has been outstanding by the two so far, and they will now sharpen their focus on the bigger task at hand — getting India into the final. 

After 29 overs,India 185/1 ( Rohit Sharma 88 , Virat Kohli (C) 51)

Taskin continuing. And again, after Virat rolled the strike over, Rohit plays a shot that is neither defensive nor offensive, neither a push in front nor a glide behind, hits it into the ground and sees the ball bounce over the stumps. Gets one, Virat gives him back the strike, so this time he stands tall and punches square, can’t beat point. Timing is off, placement is off, and a frown on his face now where all along it was calm. Manages to work a single out on the on side off ball five, short outside off and Virat who was walking across the stumps gets behind it, pulls through the gap between midwicket and mid on, gets enough power while off balance to roll the ball over the line and get to his 50, off 42 balls.

FIFTY for Virat Kohli, and the Indian skipper gets there in 42 deliveries! His 42nd in ODIs, and the third time he gets to the milestone in the ongoing tournament. Pushes this one towards the cow-corner boundary, with the fielder giving it a chase before ultimately giving up.

After 28 overs,India 177/1 ( Rohit Sharma 86 , Virat Kohli (C) 45)

Shakib comes back for Mossadek. Short third man, point, cover standing well up, mid off on the on. Very conventional field, Virat gets his single to mid on and Rohit, on 85 and in sight of his century, seems to lose his shape a little bit. Tried to push the single, was foiled, chipped down the track and got the leading edge but the ball lands behind the mid off fielder. Kohli tries to finesse a single to third man, fails, so goes the conventional route and pushes it to long on for that single.

In case Bangladesh was watching, though, distinct signs of Rohit losing the plot a little bit. It’s been a while since a century, and he seems to be feeling its proximity and the resulting pressure. Good time to attack him.

After 27 overs,India 173/1 ( Rohit Sharma 84 , Virat Kohli (C) 43)

Taksin running in with a wide slip, bowling outside off at Rohit, who had a bit of a slash at one off the last ball of the previous over. Good line wide of off, inviting the drive or cut at the risk of edging to that very wide slip. Rohit rides the bounce and pushes in front of him, but for once the cover fielder is well in and for three straight deliveries, there are no easy singles to be had, with Rohit picking that fielder out twice in three tries.

Ball four is closer to the stumps and Rohit tries his luck on the on side with a push, but now it is mid on standing well in and stopping the single. Ball five, Rohit — exasperated, it looked like — had a slash at it, gets the thick outer edge, well wide of slip, and short of third man, single.

Full toss to Virat ends the over; surprises the batsman and Virat, who was shaping up to work off to leg, only manages to push to mid on, no run. One quiet over finally, by Bangladesh; if they can produce two, three more of these, we just might find the batsmen feel a tiny bit of pressure.

Less than 100 needed for India. Chips are already down in Bangladesh camp, it seems. There has been no ‘X-Factor’ in their bowling today. Currently the Tigers are just going through the motions.

After 26 overs,India 172/1 ( Rohit Sharma 83 , Virat Kohli (C) 43)

Mosaddek continues. Both batsmen start with singles, both on the on side, and it makes you wonder what the devil is the point of having fielders in the ring if they are not placed to stop singles. Ball three has Virat take a step out to get to the pitch, and then play one of those silky smooth extra cover drives, played with such ease it almost looks like a pushed single till you see the ball racing across the line. Four easy singles, one lovely four, in that over.

Kohli picks the gap between extra-cover and mid-off with pinpoint precision in the third delivery of the 26th over. Classy shot from the captain! India 170/1

After 25 overs,India 164/1 ( Rohit Sharma 81 , Virat Kohli (C) 37)

Taskin returns to the bowling crease — this innings, you can’t really use the word “attack” and Kohli mishits one that lifts at him outside off, down into the ground at his feet and wide of off stump. The next ball is business per usual, eased into the covers on the up — both batsmen have trusted the bounce here and hit through the line on the up with great regularity — for one. Rohit gets one and moves to within 19 of what will when it comes be his first century (actually, this is his first innings above 50) in this tournament.

Short ball and Kohli plays a checked pull for one more, through midwicket. Rare moment of alarm ends the over as Taksin bowls quick, a bit wider of off, gets Rohit cutting at it and just fails to find the edge as Rohit is surprised by the extra pace. 

After 25, Bangladesh were 142/2; India at the end of 25 are 164/1 and pulling well ahead, also well ahead of schedule.

After 24 overs,India 161/1 ( Rohit Sharma 80 , Virat Kohli (C) 35)

The ask rate now is four an over, 109 more to get and Virat gets one of those with the first ball of new bowler Mossadek’s first over, with a drive into the covers. Rohit in his turn drives, cover dives and stops but they take the run anyway, making it look easy. Virat pushes the single to mid on, his favorite off to leg push. Everything looks mechanical now, the batsmen alternatiing calculated singles and hard hits and just coasting along with the insouciance of a net session. A non-compulsory net session, that is. Five in Mossadek’s first over without either batsman hitting a shot in real anger.

Partnerships are the key to a successful run chase. Rohit and Dhawan launched the chase with an excellent 87-run opening stand in 14.4 overs. Good run rate. Now Rohit and Kohli have already added 50 unbeaten runs and at a very healthy run rate. More of the same should see India romp home. Hopefully no hiccups along the way

20 overs into India’s innings and Bangladesh are in need of a wicket again. Kohli now looking fairly settled at the crease, that straight drive down the ground was sublime. Perhaps Bangladesh should turn to the spin of Mossadek to try and mix things up a bit. They need some inspiration at the moment if they are to pull off what is looking like a very unlikely upset.

After 23 overs,India 156/1 ( Rohit Sharma 78 , Virat Kohli (C) 32)

Rubel continues and good grief, what a shot that is. Ball one, length, outside off, Virat onto his front foot, beautifully balanced into that cover drive, perfect timing and placement, through extra cover for four; then the walk across his etumps to play off to leg, again lovely placing to split midwicket and long on, both fielders converge, Virat gets three.

Short ball, here we go again, and Rohit pulls. This time in front of square, so he finds the sweeper — the line around off prevented him from hitting it behind square, so just one for it.

Virat is off on his walk across the stumps again, the off to leg push getting him the predictable single. And it is Rohit’s turn to up the glamour quotient — stays back, leans his weight back a fraction to make some room, and then plays a delicate cut through backward point, giving third man no chance. Then, by way of variety, stands tall to pretty much the same line, and this time hits the square drive with great power, wide of point, four more.

Almost ridiculously easy now, this chase looks. Good batting by all three Indians on show, and fairly pedestrian in the field and in the mind by Bangladesh.

Back-to-back boundaries is how Rohit chooses to end the 23rd over, with 17 coming off it. India cross the 150-run mark in the meantime.

Kohli stamps his class all over his cover drive at the start of the 23rd over! The fielder running in from sweeper cover had no chance on that occasion. India 143/1

After 22 overs,India 139/1 ( Rohit Sharma 69 , Virat Kohli (C) 24)

India chasing is always a more impressive sight than India batting first and these 22 overs have shown enough examples of why. Here is more — Fizz begins his over with a more or less unexceptional ball, good length angling across to off and Virat leans forward and lets his wrists go to work, easing the ball wide of midwicket for four. So Fizz moves the line marginally outside off — Virat adjusts, gets side on to the ball, goes low on his knee to time the hell out of a cover drive for another four.

Fizz goes around the wicket, and Virat walks a bit across his stumps, takes it from off and works it square on the on, single. Meanwhile, repeat views of that cover drive, and it looks better each time you see it.

So much space now in the field that it isn’t funny — this field can neither stop singles, nor really prevent the boundaries, so hard to see where Bangla thinks a breakthrough can come from. To repeat a point, this is what India does well, and Bangladesh can learn from. Rohit meanwhile ends the over with a firm extra cover drive, work for the sweeper and two to the batsman.

Back-to-back fours for Kohli at the start of the 22nd over, with Kohli now starting to attack the Fizz. Caresses the first ball of the over towards the midwicket fence, before producing one of his dream-like cover drives in the next delivery. India 136/1

After 21 overs,India 128/1 ( Rohit Sharma 67 , Virat Kohli (C) 15)

After 20 overs, with Bangladesh seemingly dominating, they had reached 105/2. India in its turn are 125/1, and well ahead on the chase with two batsmen looking well set in the middle and much more batting to come.

Rubel bowls the 21st — straight lines through the challenge, nothing really challenging for either Rohit or Virat, both of whom take the singles as available. There are three in the ring on the off, at point, cover and mid off, but that means anything behind point, or through those gaps, is easy pickings. Four singles in the over with minimum fuss, the ask rate well under five now and at this point, India is coasting. What is worse is, you can’t see too many ways for Bangladesh to turn this around — every one of their bowlers has looked fairly ordinary thus far.

After 20 overs,India 124/1 ( Rohit Sharma 65 , Virat Kohli (C) 13)

Fizz continues. Kohli does his thing with the wrists and the feet and gets his single on the on side. Fizz gets away with overpitching one just outside off — Rohit’s driving zone, that, and he nails it but finds cover. Thick outside edge gets a single down to third man next up. And then Fizz overpitches on off — Kohli eases forward, straight punch down the ground, not hitting it, just the high-elbow push that is all timing, four. Bouncer, a good surprise ball that, and Virat goes under it to end the over.

First boundary for Kohli in the penultimate delivery of the 20th over, driving it down the ground with impeccable timing! India 124/1

After 19 overs,India 118/1 ( Rohit Sharma 64 , Virat Kohli (C) 8)

So here is the bit that puzzles me — Fizz bowls well with the slightly older ball, and Rubel has the pace to use the new one, so why on earth is the bowling order the wrong way around? Courtney Walsh, Bangla’s bowling coach, might want to give that a rethink?

Rohit gets his one behind point to start the over from Rubel; Virat continues to move towards and outside off, as he almost invariably does at the start of his innings, and play off to on. It is his safety zone, but it is also what gets him in trouble early in his innings. Rubel tries a short one that stands up outside off, Virat plays what you could best describe as a roundhouse overhead smash, hitting it through wide mid on; the fielder pulls it back on the line and they run three.

Rubel then tries bouncing Rohit — the ball is short but not really bouncer length, and Rohit finds the ball coming at midriff height, swings into the pull and puts it away for four backward of point. So here we go again, a couple of good balls, then the bouncer bug bits and things go to pieces. Last ball, short again, wide of off, Rohit has a hit at it, not really in control but gets enough bat onto it and the off side behind his back is untenanted space — four, easy, to third man to end the over.

Thick outside-edge off Rohit’s bat carries all the way to the third man fence. Second consecutive boundary for him, with 12 runs coming off the over. India 118/1

Slightly short from Rubel, and he pulls this one towards the backward square-leg region with ease! India 114/1

After 18 overs,India 106/1 ( Rohit Sharma 55 , Virat Kohli (C) 5)

Mustafizur returns to the bowling crease after two shockingly bad opening overs. Stays over the wicket, looking to probe Virat in the weakness that is becoming bazaar gossip around the cricketing world — outside his off stump with the ball leaving him.

Single to Virat, then Rohit reaches into a drive, finds the ball further outside off on the angle than he thought it was, plus it was a well disguised slower ball as well, has to take one hand off the handle to get bat to it, in the air but in the gap for a brace.

Lovely last ball — some shape in the air at last, and the yorker length, causing Virat to almost fall over as he tries to dig that one out. He was moving to off when that one homed in on his toes, way out of balance to play that properly, but he is still there.

Dhawan’s wicket has come as a ray of hope for Bangladesh. But still, India are cruising. Bangladesh need at least two quick breakthroughs to get back in the game. However, both Mustafizur and Shakib – their two most reliable wicket taking options, have been dealt with authority by the Indian batsmen.

After 17 overs,India 102/1 ( Rohit Sharma 52 , Virat Kohli (C) 4)

Rubel is back, so Mashrafe decides that eight overs on the trot is good enough for now, just when I thought his plan was to bowl out his overs in one stretch. Rohit drives into the covers to get one and bring up India’s 100, now 165 short of the target.

Spread field for Virat, no slip, no close catchers, just three on the off and two on the on and Virat waits on the ball and works his single to third man. This is how he likes to play early on, just getting off strike, feeling ball hit bat and easing himself into the game and Bangladesh with this field are giving him room to spare to work those singles.

The two batsmen settle down to strike rotation; the best ball of the over was the last, a quick yorker that Rohit has to hurriedly jab down on.

Rohit looks calm and assured in a run chase. Gives a lot of confidence to the team seeing a batsman playing with so much of poise in a pressure game. He has been at the forefront in chasing down landmarks — 50 and now 100 and the team would expect him to carry on in similar manner. Conventional wisdom in a chase is that the set batsman plays right through. Seems like it is Rohit’s turn to do just that.

After 16 overs,India 99/1 ( Rohit Sharma 51 , Virat Kohli (C) 2)

Virat Kohli the new man. Bangladesh have a first breakthrough; this is the sort of point in a game where India has shown good skill in ramping up the pressure and forcing another breakthrough — wickets in clusters has been a feature of the Indian bowling in this tournament.

Shakib at the start of his next over, Rohit gets a big stride in and smacks square, that should have been stopped at point but a misfield allows four. So Rohit to the next ball plays the exact same shot — but better, placing it wide of point, same result. And then strokes the single down the ground, to long on, to bring up his 50 off 57, a nicely paced innings with some vintage Rohit shots scattered like confetti throughout it and more importantly, almost no instance of being in any kind of trouble.

Virat does what he does — shuts the bat face to work one from off to on for a single, get off strike. Rohit takes one in his turn to retain strike. 12 runs in the over — the over after a wicket, that is, and it all began with a bad misfield at point.

FIFTY for Rohit Sharma! His third of the ongoing tournament, and his 32nd in ODIs! Gets there with two boundaries and a single in this over, taking 57 deliveries to the milestone.

Back-to-back fours for Rohit! Once again driven by Rohit, this time towards sweeper cover! He moves to 49 now. India 95/1

Rohit goes for another square-drive, and sends this one just wide of the backward point fielder. The ball spins away from the fielder, and fetches Rohit his sixth boundary. India 91/1

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have now added 384 runs in this Champions Trophy which is the second most by any pair in a single edition of ICC Champions Trophy.

That’s more like it for Bangladesh, they have their first scalp and it’s the tournament’s leading run scorer Shikhar Dhawan. Enter Virat Kohli to a huge roar from the crowd. Bangladesh need to strike again quickly if they want to get back into this match.

After 15 overs,India 87/1 ( Rohit Sharma 41 , Virat Kohli (C) 0)

Mashrafe looking to bowl himself out, seemingly. Into his 8th over, around the wicket here to Shikhar looking to angle the ball into off on a goodish length. mid on, midwicket, point, cover, mid off inside the ring, none of them catching.

Mashrafe digs one in short and Shikhar, who has been gorging on this stuff all innings, pulls and gets his four. But the next ball, wicket: out of nowhere, too. Good length, Shikhar was down the track looking to loft over the on side, misread the line by a bit and the ball flares off the outer edge of the bat to point where Mossadek holds.

46 off 34 Dhawan, the engine room of this first wicket partnership, and gone just when it looked like he had the bowling entirely at his mercy.

Captain Virat Kohli joins Rohit Sharma at the centre.

OUT! And it is the captain who eventually gets the first breakthrough, with Dhawan getting a bottom-edge off a slower delivery to get caught by Mosaddek at backward point. With that, the umpires call for drinks. India 87/1

Dhawan c Mosaddek b Mortaza 46(34)

Pulled away towards the backward square-leg boundary by Dhawan, who moves to 46 now! India 87/0

After 14 overs,India 83/0 ( Rohit Sharma 41 , Shikhar Dhawan 42)

Oh, spin. Shakib Al-Hassan. No slip. On off and Rohit punches the first ball to deep mid on for one. Field for Dhawan tight on the on side; on the off, mid-off to stop the single, the other two on the thirty yard circle. Shikhar works one on the on side off his hips, Rohit gets some air on the next ball and eases into a drive that beats mid off, gets the batsman two to the deep field. And then a misfield at cover allows a single off a firm Rohit push. The over ends with a Shikhar push to long on, single.

In those six balls, nothing for Shakib by way of turn; it’s been fairly up and down stuff. NOt surprising, barring a couple of occasions there wasn’t any real turn when India bowled either.

Spin introduced into the attack for the first time in the innings. Shakib to bowl the 14th over.

After 13 overs,India 77/0 ( Rohit Sharma 37 , Shikhar Dhawan 40)

Mashrafe plugging away, now into his 7th over. Two good balls, width on the third, Rohit rides the bounce and punches to extra cover, gets one. then Shikhar plays one on the off, wants one, Rohit says no, then Rohit wants one to the misfield, the two almost meet in mid pitch, then they run back to their respective ends and Rohit has a wry smile at the end of all that effort for nothing. Short ball, pull by Dhawan, fielded at deep fine, one more, so — seriously — what the hell is with short balls at Dhawan? This is getting to be like how England bowled at Pakistan the other day, almost on auto-pilot, irrespective of results.

Dhawan has been quite impressive with his pulling, nice roll of the wrist every time exvept when he went for that six and hit up from under. Just the single this time.

India have shown tremendous intensity and intent in this chase. Both Dhawan and Rohit are batting beautifully and are gathering runs at a good rate without taking any risks. Important that the batsmen don’t get complacent. India have batting depth but pressure could be a challenge for later batsmen. Main batsmen must take it on themselves to stifle and demolish Bangladesh. Still some way to go.

After 12 overs,India 74/0 ( Rohit Sharma 35 , Shikhar Dhawan 39)

Meanwhile, the ask is down to under 200 now, as Rubel resumes. Rohit starts with an easy single, and Rubel — who in his last over showed some discipline — gives Shikhar one down the leg side, as if Shikhar needed even more freebies. Four, just helping the ball along to the fine leg fence, duh!

A nice checked flick, good wrist work, gets Shikhar one to the line of off. He didn’t move across even — just stayed parked on his leg stump guard, let the ball come at him, then did the thing with the wrist. Just one, but it was pretty to watch. Rohit off his pads behind square as Rubel straightens his line is another single, seven in that over and you almost didn’t notice them coming.

Nothing is happening for the Bangladesh bowlers. No sideways movement whatsoever. Both Shikhar and Rohit are batting freely out there. Mortaza has already tried his four pacers. Time for Shakib may be.

Shikhar Dhawan now holds the record of scoring most runs for India in ICC Champions Trophy. He went past Sourav Ganguly’s tally of 665 runs.

Shikhar Dhawan becomes the first batsman to score 300-plus runs in two different editions of ICC Champions Trophy. (2013 and 2017)

After 11 overs,India 67/0 ( Rohit Sharma 33 , Shikhar Dhawan 34)

43/2 Bangladesh after ten; India 63/0 and ahead of the pace. Also, the best powerplay by India through this tournament, by a good distance. Mashrafe continues. And the biggest chink in Shikhar’s game comes to the fore — the guy runs like he is on speed. Rohit had barely pushed the ball before Dhawan was almost next to him; he was rightly sent back and made his ground thanks in part to a throw that was off target.

Rohit gets his single off the third ball; Mashrafe bounces Shikhar — what is with everyone bouncing Shikhar today, it is not as if he has a terrible weakness there? — and a controlled pull gets the single to fine leg. Rohit mistimes a push off his hips onto the on side, but plays it well wide of anyone in any position to catch it, so the single is on. Four of those in that over.

India going along at a tick over 6 – one run an over more than the pace they need.

After 10 overs,India 63/0 ( Rohit Sharma 31 , Shikhar Dhawan 32)

Rubel Hossain, the quickest of the Bangladesh bowlers, now takes over from Taskin, who got schooled by Dhawan in the previous over. Peculiar start, Rubel has, to his bowling run — holds the ball out in front of him, squats as if he is thinking of taking a dump, then changes his mind and starts his run up. But for all that, his approach is smooth, he gets a lot of energy into his load up and delivery, and comes really quick off the deck.

Dhawan works one; Rohit square cuts and gets a brace through point; cuts again — Rubel is a bit on the wide side of off to Rohit — but is foiled by a diving stop at point. Defends to the last ball, outside his off stump, and for once Bangladesh bowls an over without a gift in it.

Nothing is happening for the Bangladesh bowlers. No sideways movement whatsoever. Both Shikhar and Rohit are batting freely out there. Mortaza has already tried his four pacers. Time for Shakib may be.

Shikhar Dhawan now holds the record of scoring most runs for India in ICC Champions Trophy. He went past Sourav Ganguly’s tally of 665 runs.

Did you know?

Shikhar Dhawan becomes the first batsman to score 300-plus runs in two different editions of ICC Champions Trophy. (2013 and 2017)

Rubel Hossain introduced into the attack in the last over of powerplay.

After 9 overs,India 60/0 ( Rohit Sharma 29 , Shikhar Dhawan 31)

Mashrafe resumes. One dot, two dots, three dots, width outside off, drive on the rise by Rohit whose feet are moving easily now, through the covers for two before the fielders can hunt this one down; a walk across the stumps and a push to midwicket gets a single by way of follow up.

10 fours and a six inside the power play is ridiculously good batting by the Indians and somewhat pedestrian bowling by the Bangladesh lot. When India bowled, the Bangla batsmen had to innovate, give the bowlers the charge, shape-shift, in order to make the fours; here the two Indian openers are playing their game, the way everyone has seen them play for aeons, and they are getting fed to their pet areas.

Things looking a bit ominous for Bangladesh, as India bring up 50 without loss inside the first 8 overs. Both Indian openers are going pretty well at the moment and Bangladesh really need to strike to get things back under a bit of control and give their supporters something to cheer.

Meanwhile, Dhawan is back on top of the run-getters list at the moment. He goes past Tamim Iqbal, who had only climbed to the spot with a fine 70 in the Bangladesh innings earlier this evening.

After 8 overs,India 56/0 ( Rohit Sharma 26 , Shikhar Dhawan 30)

Taskin bounces, quicker than the last time he tried this to Shikhar and climbing more off the deck, Shikhar checks his pull, gets one to deep fine. Very full length to Rohit looking for the yorker, and Rohit off the toe of the bat gets one square on the on.

Here we go again — marginal error, which translates into huge error against batsmen in this form. Short ball, not hitting the deck so just coming through at waist height, Shikhar lets it come on, plays the short arm jab on top of the bounce and gets the four through point, easy as you like.

What this error prone bowling is doing is ensuring that the openers are under no pressure at all. The way they are playing, it is as if they know there is a bad ball coming every over, so they calmly play out the rest, and cash in ruthlessly at the first sign of error.

There it is again, another short ball, this one on middle and climbing, and Shikhar into the pull as soon as he sees the length, hits it clean as a whistle through midwicket, four more to bring 50 up. Taskin for some reason bounces again and Dhawan, almost looking bored, pulls again — this time up from under, and that is an effortless six over square leg.

Bangladesh at this point giving the game away with surprising generosity, and the Indians batting well and taking full toll.

Pulled again by Dhawan, and this time he connects well enough to clear the midwicket boundary! First six of the innings! India 56/0

Pulled away this time by Dhawan towards the square-leg boundary, and the southpaw brings up the 50-opening stand with Rohit with that shot! India 50/0

FOUR! Delightful from Dhawan! Just a touch short by Taskin, and Dhawan jabs this one over the off-side cordon inside the circle, getting his fourth boundary in the process. India 46/0

After 7 overs,India 40/0 ( Rohit Sharma 25 , Shikhar Dhawan 15)

This pair at the start of an innings ambles along at about three an over but here, they are going at double that through the first six overs — partly because the Bangladesh bowlers have fed their strengths, and partly because they have been good enough to cash in every chance they got.

Mashrafe continuing to Rohit. Steady line bowling in the off channel, looking to hit top of off, produces four dot balls but then the bowler for some reason decides to pull the length back a bit. At his pace — 125k — that one sits up and Rohit swats it away imperiously over the infield, four to the wide midwicket boundary. Mashrafe promptly goes back to the line and length that worked for him earlier in the over — but that is sort of the problem thus far for Bangladesh, this inability to string six good balls together.

FOUR! Slightly short from Mashrafe, and Rohit has no problem pulling this one towards long-on. India 40/0

After 6 overs,India 36/0 ( Rohit Sharma 21 , Shikhar Dhawan 15)

A bowling change you could see coming. Fizz is off, Taskin Ahmed is on. And damn near strikes first ball. Quicker than Fizz, good length, Rohit cuts at it, is beaten by the extra pace, thick outside edge and the ball drops in front of slip. Almost-yorker length ball is the follow up, Rohit digs it out, then runs the next ball down to third man for one.

Tight line to Dhawan, hitting middle on length and lifting into off, Dhawan gets behind it and pushes in defense. But then he tries a bouncer on middle, doesn’t get it to lift high enough off the deck, and Shikhar swivels into the pull, rolling his wrist over the shot to keep it down, and finds the square leg fence. Quite a good over it was developing into, but that was a badly bowled short one

Short and along middle from Taskin. Dhawan pulls this one towards the backward square-leg boundary with ease. India 36/0 after 6 overs.

First bowling change of the innings, with Mortaza getting Taskin into the attack in the sixth over of the Indian innings.

After 5 overs,India 31/0 ( Rohit Sharma 20 , Shikhar Dhawan 11)

Mashrafe continues. Line bowling, but good line bowling — three quarter length and just on or around off, so there is nothing much for Rohit to work with. Trouble is, he can’t keep it up for a fourth ball on the trot — drags the length back, drops the pace, gets it more to middle stump and Rohit flicks his wrists through the line of the ball, easy as you please, through wide midwicket for four. The last ball of the over is wide of off and this time, Rohit content to just guide it to third man for a single — a bit too fuller in length for him to play that square drive like he did against Fizz, so he adjusts and retains strike

Lack of seam and swing seriously hampering Bangladesh bowlers. India are going at a good run rate. Better than in any other match. Usually India would have been very happy at 40 for no loss at end of 10th over. But Dhawan and Rohit making use of the new ball where the ball is coming on to the bat. As the ball gets older it won’t come on so invitingly. Good strategy to rattle off a few runs when just two fielders are in the deep. Would do well to push back these Bangladeshis. Going at 6 an over is pretty good

Another exquisite shot by Rohit, guiding a slower ball from Mortaza towards the midwicket boundary while keeping it wide of the fielder. India 30/0

Not the start Bangladesh would have been hoping for, no early breakthrough and Rohit Sharma has tucked into Mustafizur for three boundaries in an over. Bangladesh need to strike soon otherwise they could find themselves in some trouble.

After 4 overs,India 25/0 ( Rohit Sharma 15 , Shikhar Dhawan 10)

Fizz continues — and as with Dhawan, so with Rohit, Fizz gets too wide of the stump off a back of length. Rohit eases onto the front foot, gets to the ball leaving him and eases it with a languid drive through point, four.

Fizz, bowling with the wind at his back, goes round the wicket to straighten the line and cut out the angle. That works well for him, brings Rohit forward twice on the trot in defense. No movement in the air or off the wicket, though.

After two good balls, another aberration — short, wide of off and Rohit down on his knee, smacks that square drive perfectly, perfect placement and lots of power, four easy. Fizz in two overs has on four occasions erred by giving width, and he has been punished all four times. So then Fizz tries a fuller length, on off, and Rohit takes a half step to get close to the pitch, and punches the straight drive down the ground, between the stumps and mid on, four again, the third boundary in this over and the fifth off two overs of Fizz — maybe I need to stop calling him Fizz.

Just a push down the ground, and Rohit gets the third boundary of the over! Managed to place it to perfection at the same time! India 25/0

Another square-drive by Rohit, and this one is even sweeter than the one at the start of the over, coming right off the middle of the bat! Rohit’s in fine nick! India 21/0

Square-driven by Rohit at the start of the fourth over, and one feels as if the two openers are starting to target Mustafizur, who has had a lean patch in the Champions Trophy so far. India 17/0

After 3 overs,India 13/0 ( Rohit Sharma 3 , Shikhar Dhawan 10)

Mashrafe to continue, now bowling to Dhawan. They have the slip, and a deep backward point for Dhawan’s play square on the off. Mashrafe over the wicket, angling across the left hander, and hits the good length first up, forcing the defensive push.

Ball two is a bit wider on that angle and Dhawan forward, pushing the single on the off and walking across to the other end. The slip goes a bit wider, to a second slip position now; Mashrafe goes a bit short of good length, getting the ball to climb outside off, Rohit plays off to on and finds midwicket. Fuller length next up, same line and this time Rohit can shut the bat face, work the single onto the on side to square leg who is on the edge of the circle. 

Good length, hitting middle, straightening on line and Dhawan defends. That is the sort of ball that once Dhawan gets his range, he likes to flick over wide long on, but it is clearly too early for such adventures. Steady over, quietly played out by the Indians.

Rohit Sharma’s batting average against Mustafizur Rahman in ODIs is 12.67. Mustafizur Rahman has dismissed him three times in ODIs.

Mustafizur offers width to Dhawan and the southpaw cashes in with two consecutive boundaries, first through cover and then through the point.

After 1 overs,India 2/0 ( Rohit Sharma 2 , Shikhar Dhawan 0)

So here we go, for the second half of the semifinal in a tournament that has seen seven straight upsets — or at least, since we are talking of the top eight teams in the world — results against expectations, on the bounce.

India is the only one of the top four teams still standing at the penultimate stage. Here, it goes in with two advantages — it knows the target and can plan the chase without the pressure of batting first and trying to figure out what pace to set; it restricted Bangladesh to just 264 which by any yardstick is a good 30 runs or more short of par on this particular wicket.

That said, it still has to make those runs — 365 of them, against a good bowling and fielding side that knows it has nothing to lose, and has shown in this tournament a penchant for fighting till the end.

Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan — a partnership forged in the previous edition of this tournament — are back out there to start the chase, needing to go at 5.3 RPO to seal this deal. Rohit will face, with a slip behind him as Mashrafe takes the new ball.

Length ball on off and middle and Rohit eases it on the on, square, gets two. the next ball is a ripper in the channel outside off, climbing late and straightening a shade, Rohit parked on top of his crease beaten on the push, lucky not to nick off.

Steadily in the channel, Mashrafe, after that first ball on the stumps and Rohit defensive all the way through the over. Getting the ball onto the middle of the bat regularly, untroubled except with that second ball that beat him outside off.

India start their chase with the usual pair of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.

Ayaz Memon discusses Bangladesh’s innings and India’s prospects at the innings break of the second semi-final of the Champions Trophy…

At the end of five overs Bangladesh were 31/1; at the end of 10 they were 46/2; at the end of 20 they were 105/2 — and two well-set batsmen were milking the bowling, getting singles at will and pouncing on the bad balls, even occasionally converting good ones into bad.

At that point India’s vaunted ground game seemed to be a bit in shambles — the field seemed full of gaps, the odd misfield was causing considerable heartburn, Ashwin wasn’t bossing the middle as he is tasked to do.

And that is when the quality of this Indian team came through — at a point in the game when you expect the fielding side to sit back a bit, try and minimise damage, India kept at it. The field stayed up; some tongue-lashing by the captain got the laggards to up their game; Kedar Jadhav provided the control Ashwin had misplaced; with Jadhav buttoning one end down, Jadeja got the second wind he needed at the other end, and India clawed its way back into the game the best way possible — by first turning the pressure back on the batting side, then using it to take out wickets at regular intervals during the middle overs. 

The moment of the game, from an Indian point of view, was Jadhav taking out Tamim Iqbal. The Bangladeshi opener seemed to want to destroy the part time bowler; he kept sweeping at Jadhav and the bowler cannily bowled the quicker pace off his round arm action, and the fuller length, to beat the shot and hit the stumps. That was over-ambition from a well-set batsmen, and it altered the course of the game and in the final analysis, proved to be why Bangladesh fell well short of the 300 that seemed on the cards at the halfway mark.

All of that said, 265 to win is not a target to sneeze at. Bangladesh have four quality pace bowlers and good spin options, plus they field well in the ring and give very little away. The trick for India will be in how they pace this chase — go too slow and you could paint yourself into a corner; go too hard and it could end with a couple of quick wickets and considerable pressure.

That balancing act is easy enough to write about, not quite as easy to pull off. We’ll see how India go in just a few minutes from now.

Some useful runs towards the end for Bangladesh. Skipper Mortaza’s 25-ball 30 has provided his team something to defend. But they have to play some outstanding cricket in the second half of the match to defend 264 on this flat Edgbaston track against the star-studded Indian batting line-up. A lot will depend on how Mustafizur and Taskin bowl.

So Bangladesh finish on 264, which feels a little short to really challenge India. They needed one of their set batsmen to really go on and get a big score, but they have runs on the board and you never know what the pressure will do to the chasing side. Should be a cracking second half to this match, helped by a very enthusiastic crowd.

The lowest total defended by Bangladesh against Test playing nations outside Bangladesh in ODIs is 223 which they defended against Pakistan at Northampton in 1999.

After 50 overs,Bangladesh 264/7 ( Mashrafe Mortaza (C) 30 , Taskin Ahmed 11)

Bhuvi to bowl to Taskin. Short on middle, heaved to midwicket, single to start the over. Yorker length — beautifully bowled, into the blockhole on middle stump and Mashrafe can only push it away off the toe end of a swishing bat.

Ball three, slower ball, going wide of off, a reaction to Mashrafe backing away./ But it ends up too wide, and is called. Bowled again, Bhuvi sends in the yorker, just fractionally short of that length allows Mashrafe to dig it out and send it deep into the off side, fielded at long off, two for it.

Bug Bhuvi, who was trying to stop that on the follow through, seems to have done his ankle a bit of no good, goes down on the ground and is in obvious pain.

Gets back on his feet after some running repairs, and bowls a quick ball outside off, Mashrafe swipes at it and can only hit it into the ground at his feet — beaten there for pace.

Ball five, Mashrafe backs away, Bhuvi holds his shape and bowls the yorker he was always going for; Mashrafe gets bat to it but finds point, just one.

Last ball of the Bangladesh innings, Bhuvi tight on off, Taskin throws his bat at it, gets just one out to mid off, and end on 264 for 7 — a score that is well below par here.

Bangladesh strategy at the death, like it was at the start of the innings, is to throw the kitchen sink at everything and hope for the best. Their tail is wagging big time, mostly with  edged boundaries. But runs are crucial and India should not live to regret this poor finish at the death. Bangladesh now have a decent total. The last few overs have gone for more runs than bargained for. In excess of 5 runs per over.

After 49 overs,Bangladesh 258/7 ( Mashrafe Mortaza (C) 27 , Taskin Ahmed 9)

Bumrah. Mashrafe. Swing or rather, wild heave at the short ball. Top edge. Four. Ball two, Mashrafe steps away, takes a length ball and smears it through mid off, beats the diving fielder, gets another four. Yuvraj dived but had no chance there, Bumrah goes what the eff but that was wide of the fielder, and Kohli has a smile for his angry bowler, then a few words betwen them as Bumrah walks back to his mark.

Yorker. Nothing anyone can do about that one; Mashrafe gets the toe of the bat on it through to Dhoni. Mashrafe backs away a long way, Bumrah follows him but ends up bowling a full toss which Mashrafe swings at, baseball style, finds long on, gets one. In his turn, Taskin swipes at a short ball and gets enough bat to run one to third man. 10 in the over. The last over of the innings coming up, Bhuvi to bowl it.

FOUR! Bumrah is not happy with Yuvraj’s effort at mid off. Mortaza creams it between covers and mid off. Yuvraj put in a dive but failed to stop it.

FOUR! Mashrafe looks to pull Bumrah but top edges him over the keeper’s head. 250-run mark comes up for Bangladesh.

After 48 overs,Bangladesh 248/7 ( Mashrafe Mortaza (C) 18 , Taskin Ahmed 8)

Bhuvi, and Taskin greets him with a heave and is easily beaten by the one angling across and going further away at pace off the seam. Then he is beaten again, this time by the slower one also on the angle across the left hander.

Ball three and that is three in three, Taskin this time gets the length ball seaming away — talking of which, amazing how upright the seam is here — and is beaten on the push. Ball four? The short ball, also seaming away, beating a wild heave by the befuddled batsman.

Ball five, Taskin changes tack and walks towards Bhuvi, who drops the length short and beats the heave. Five dot balls — and off the last ball, Taskin finally connects with one of his heaves, this one was length or better and he smears the ball through the covers to find the boundary. Just the four in the over, and if I said 375 tops, excuse it please, 365 looks hard from here.

After 47 overs,Bangladesh 244/7 ( Mashrafe Mortaza (C) 18 , Taskin Ahmed 4)

Even Bumrah can’t not laugh, even though he just bled four runs.

First ball of the over, Mashrafe moved to off, then backed to leg, then moved back to middle — the guy just wouldn’t stand still. Bumrah produced the yorker and somehow, god knows how, Mashrafe got just enough of some part of the bat onto it to slip it past leg stump and get four.

Bumrah laughed, then produced a short ball that chased Mashrafe as he backed to leg and thumped him on the ribs. Ouch. Ball three, wild swing, single to midwicket. Bouncer — oh boy what a brilliant one, too — real quick, climbing like it had a ladder around the leg stump, forcing the batsman into hasty evasive action. Too good for the tailender.

Taskin works one to long on. Yuvraj misfields, and Bumrah is disgusted, and shows it. Not bad, for a youngster to be able to show how disappointed he is with a man playing his 300th ODI. 

Three more overs to go; Bangladesh will do well to get to around 275 at best, from here.

Currently the Bangladesh innings is looking like a ship without a captain. Since the wicket of Tamim, they haven’t had any momentum. From here they can try and reach the 260-270 mark. Though that will be below par against this Indian batting batting line-up. However, Bangladesh have to hang in here.

After 46 overs,Bangladesh 236/7 ( Mashrafe Mortaza (C) 13 , Taskin Ahmed 1)

Taskin Ahmed is the new batsman, but it is Mashrafe taking on Bbuvi, with a slip now standing wide, somewhere near where a third slip would be. Ball one is driven, to long on, gets one. To the left hander, Bhuvi angles across on good length, staying over the wicket, and gets it to drift past that groping bat, just missing the outside edge. Kohli now in orthodox first slip position.

Taskin gets one; Mashrafe gets a bouncer he swings at and top edges behind Dhoni and down to the fence for four. Has a heave at the next ball, which is a well disguised slower ball, misses completely.

Yorker next up, and dug out for a single for Mashrafe to retain strike. Seven in the over, but it is after all the back end of an innings, by which standard this is real controlled bowling. Four more to go

After 45 overs,Bangladesh 229/7 ( Mashrafe Mortaza (C) 7 , )

Bumrah — and starts with a wide yorker, around that 5th stump. Batsman can’t get it away nowhow. the next one is the straighter yorker swerving into middle, but turns out to be a dipping full toss; Mashrafe tucks it to leg but finds the fielder. Backs away to the third ball, Bhuvi follows him and somehow the Bangla captain fends the ball away on the on, gets one.

Now the slower ball, sliding past the leg stump — the change down in pace foxing Mahmudullah, who was looking to flick it fine but got beaten. Next ball, guided to fine leg from line of middle and leg and Bhuvi races around along the boundary, dives, pulls it back, recovers, throws — keeps it to two, lovely work by the quick bowler so soon after finishing an over.

AND, WICKET: That is the yorker Bumrah has been trying to land throughout this over. This one starts outside off, swings in, lands bang in the blockhole, and is altogether too good for even a batsman of Mahmudullah’s caliber. Bowled off stump, and with him down, Bangladesh reduced to its tail now with five overs to go after this one.

BOWLED EM! Quintessential Bumrah yorker, and he floors Mahmudullah’s off-stump just when the latter was coming down the ground. Bangladesh 229/7

Mahmudullah b Bumrah 21(25)

After 44 overs,Bangladesh 226/6 ( Mahmudullah 19 , Mashrafe Mortaza (C) 6)

Bhuvi is back — and Jadeja continues to put on a show, diving to field a hard, well timed cut off the first ball of the over, at point.

Mahmudullah changes tack, walks across his stumps, takes one from outside off and gets a single to fine leg.

Bangladesh were 142/2 at the 25th over mark; they are now 221/6 and the platform they had at the halfway mark has been well and truly nullifed by India, thanks to some great bowling by Kedar Jadhav and Ravi Jadeja.

Bhuvi has had what by his standards is an expensive outing today; here he digs one in short, it is the slower one and Mashrafe spots it, rocks into a pull and places it wide of midwicket to get four. Lovely yorker follows, which the batsman just manages to stop dead, then looks back to see if its roll will take it onto the stumps. It doesn’t.

The last ball is short into the body, worked off his hips by Mashrafe to fine leg, gets one. Six in the over.

Captain Mashrafe Mortaza gets his first boundary with a slog towards the cow-corner boundary off Bhuvneshwar! Bangladesh 225/6

Bangladesh continue to be pegged back by India here, much to the delight of the large amount of supporters they have in the crowd. Bumrah gets in on the wickets now and Bangladesh are in a bit of danger of not posting a total that is going to challenge India. They need something special from Mahmudullah.

After 43 overs,Bangladesh 220/6 ( Mahmudullah 18 , Mashrafe Mortaza (C) 1)

Bumrah — and another beauty, on length, straightening, beating the bat on the outside edge. MS suggests a slip; Kohli decides otherwise; point dives to stop a fierce cut by Mosaddek to the next ball — and then the wicket.

Went wide on the crease, dug it in short, the quick, sharp bouncer he bowls so well, Mossadeq saw the length, went into the heave, found the ball coming into his body and growing big on him, could only get the ball high on the bat to put it up in the air for the easiest of caught and bowleds. Superb bowling this from Bumrah, he has been working on both batsmen in these two overs. And again, a wicket at a key time, which seems to be one of India’s biggest strengths.

Skipper Mashrafe to the wicket; Kohli quickly into the slip position and Bumrah into his bouncer — short, qujick, straight at the helmet, forcing the quick duck.

The next ball is lifting into the body, but somehow Mashrafe manages to control a little fend and get off strike with a single behind square leg. Mahmudullah in his turn works the single behind point — three dot balls, two singles, one wicket in this over, which is about as good as death bowling gets.

OUT! And Mosaddek has thrown his wicket away after getting off to a good start, getting a top-edge off a pull after getting cramped for room by a back-of-length delivery from Bumrah, and offering the bowler a simple return catch. End of a formidable stand. Bangladesh 218/6

Mosaddek c & b Bumrah 15(25)

After 42 overs,Bangladesh 218/5 ( Mahmudullah 17 , Mosaddek Hossain 15)

Random stat: Apparently India is going through its overs at the rate of 16.2 overs per hour, about two overs more than the norm. No wonder I feel so damn tired.

Speaking of, Ash comes back on and the first ball, on middle, is greeted by Mahmudullah with a lovely reverse sweep. That ball was very quick and flat, which gave the batsman the pace he needed to work with and get it over point to find the fence. A very quick touch and run behind square on the on a ball later gets Mossadeq on strike, then it is turned over again to Mahmudullah. Six in the over, three dot balls to end it.

Eight overs to go, and things should begin to happen any time now. Big shots, wickets… hang on

India controlled those middle overs through Jadhav and Jadeja. The ball was not coming on to the bat and enabling strokeplay. Jadhav’s slow, low bowling was very difficult to put away by batsmen who lacked big time muscle power. But now the pacers are back for the final 10 overs. Even with an extra fielder run-making will be easier. Indian need to keep the total in check

Into the last 10 overs now and Bangladesh have got a bit of catching up to do. Can they punish India for dropping Mahmudullah to rack up a hefty total at the back end of their innings? Key part of the match coming up.

Reverse-sweep by Mahmudullah carries over the short third-man fielder, and runs away to the boundary beyond! This is turning out to be a dangerous partnership from the Indian perspective. Bangladesh 216/5

After 41 overs,Bangladesh 212/5 ( Mahmudullah 12 , Mosaddek Hossain 14)

Bumrah into the attack now. Meanwhile, in that previous “everything happening” over, India gave up five penalty runs when Dhoni discarded his glove to take a throw and flick it back onto the stumps. He ended up hitting his discarded glove, and that is five to the good for Bangladesh.

Mossadek hits a blinder in this over — very good ball actually, good length, angling in at pace but the batsman stays leg side, flows into a cover drive hit with authority and power, pierces the field and finds the fence. Lovely, flowing shot that.

Other than that, though, Bumrah bowling a good over — quick, on good lines, getting the ball to straighten on the batsmen outside the off stump, going past the edge time and again; the last ball of the over a particularly good example of a quick bowler bowling at the death.

FOUR! Third boundary of the innings for Mosaddek, executing his drive between mid-off and extra-cover with finesse! Bangladesh 212/5

After 40 overs,Bangladesh 207/5 ( Mahmudullah 11 , Mosaddek Hossain 10)

What Jadeja and Kedar Jhadav have done — besides bowling their overs at the sort of pace that makes typing fingers cramp — is to pull India back into the game and ensure that the 300-plus score Bangladesh was threatening is now almost out of the cards.

Ash resumes after the drinks break. Mossadek pushes him to short thrid man for one; Mahmudullah sweeps and Yuvraj, into his 300th over, races around the turf at fine leg to field and throw in a jiffy, keeps it down to one. Singles, leg byes, a wide — a very odd over this from Ash, and Virat looks distinctly unamused.

Five penalty runs have been awarded to Bangladesh after a backhand throw from Dhoni lands on the glove that the Indian wicketkeeper had discarded near the striker’s stumps. BAN 207/5

After 39 overs,Bangladesh 197/5 ( Mahmudullah 10 , Mosaddek Hossain 9)

Hardik Pandya comes on in place of Jadeja, who has used up his quota in one extended spell. And the first ball is in the channel, just back of length and Mahmudullah beaten on the defensive push, the ball flashing past the edge.

Ball two is fuller, quicker, seams in a touch onto off and forces the defensive push. Almost a wicket off the third ball — the sudden, quick bouncer, Mahmudullah surprised, the ball flying high off the top edge and Ash, by far the slowerst of the Indian fielders, runs around at third man, gets both hands to it but can’t hold on. Kohli gives him the sort of glare that incinerates people on the spot; Ash pretends not to see.

Another bouncer, Mahmudullah swings again and this time, very lucky the ball beats the edge — that was quicker, and went through before the bat was really into the shot. And then Hardik again gets his length up to beat Mahmudullah’s outside edge on the tentative push.

VERY good come back over this from Hardik — would have been a successful one too, if there was a halfway decent fielder at third man; that bouncer was predictable and bowled with intent.

DROPPED! Mahmudullah uppercuts a short ball from Pandya towards third man, where Ashwin runs towards the ball, but fails to hold on to the catch after crouching low. The ball then runs away towards the padded cushion. First boundary for Mahmudullah. Bangladesh 195/5

After 38 overs,Bangladesh 191/5 ( Mahmudullah 4 , Mosaddek Hossain 9)

Jadhav off and Ash back into the attack here. 6-0-22-2 — superb work by Jadhav, paradoxically by simply sticking to the basics of slow bowling and not over-attacking. He just kept it there and thereabouts and let the batsmen make the mistakes.

Mahmadullah scoops, gets one to fine leg. Mossadeq plays out a dot around his off then makes room on the same line and push one to point. Good diving stop by Kohli, running to his left and then putting in a dive, stops a single off the fifth ball and the sixth, played behind square, is similarly unproductive, so overall a good comeback over for Ash.

From 154 for 2 to 179 for 5 – Bangladesh have completely lost the plot here. All their set batsmen are gone. Mahmudullah and Mosaddek – two new man are at the crease now. This is their last recognised batting pair. A wicket here can expose their lower order and they have a long tail. After this pair, only Mortaza can manage himself with bat in hand.

After 37 overs,Bangladesh 188/5 ( Mahmudullah 2 , Mosaddek Hossain 8)

Jadeja resumes, into his 10th and final over. Mahmadullah drives, gets one to sweeper cover. Mossadeq cuts — with slip in place — and is very lucky not to replicate the Shakib dismissal as that ball hurries onto him and flashes past the edge.

Point and a short cover now coming regularly into play, the two fielders lapping each other and bringing off saves, but again the last ball is a bit loose, outside off and short and Mossadeq for the second time in two overs finds the fence with a good square drive, hit hard and placed perfectly to beat point.

After 36 overs,Bangladesh 183/5 ( Mahmudullah 1 , Mosaddek Hossain 4)

Jadhav continues, to Mushfiqur and WICKET.

That is a double blow, and it is going to hurt. Jadhav bowled this with a higher arm, slower in the air, fuller in length, Mushfiqur predetermined a dance down the wicket, found the ball dipping on him, went through with the hit anyway and Kohli leans forward at short midwicket to take a good catch low to the ground.

With two wickets in two overs against the run of play, India clawing their way back into this game in a fashion that has become something of a trademark. In times gone by, India tended to droop a bit when things weren’t going well for them — now they keep chopping and changing their plans but keep going hard at the opposition, and at times it seems like they take wickets through sheer will power.

Damn near a run out here, as Mossadeq pushes on the on and Mahmudullah goes a long way down before being sent back. But the last ball of the over is outside off and on the shorter side, sits up nicely, Mossadeq lashes a square drive to beat point and find the boundary to spoil an otherwise excellent over.

Most wickets for India in ICC Champions Trophy:

16 – RAVINDRA JADEJA*

15 – Zaheer Khan 

14 – Harbhajan Singh, Sachin Tendulkar

FOUR! Cut away by Mosaddek Hossain, the new batsman at the crease, and manages to dispatch this one towards the backward point fence! What a way for him to get off the mark! Bangladesh 183/5

OUT! Now it is Mushfiqur’s turn to head back to the pavilion! Guides a looped-up delivery straight to Kohli at short midwicket, and the Indian captain has a gala time making faces after that dismissal! Bangladesh 179/5

After 35 overs,Bangladesh 179/4 ( Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 61 , Mahmudullah 1)

Wicket: Ball two of Jadeja, and as Shakib did in the last over, he backs away a bit, tries to make room to cut, but Jadeja bowled this flatter and quicker through the air. The ball hurries onto Shakib, forces the very thin edge and Dhoni, staying low, makes a very tough catch look ridiculously easy. 

That is a vital wicket of the in-form batsman, and comes at a critical point in play — the 35th over is pretty much a pivot point in an ODI, with wickets in hand at that stage, you can look to try and double the score.

Mahmadullah the new man in, like Shakib coming into this game fresh off a match winning century.

So now two right handers at the crease, and Kohli has the option of bringing Ash back on sooner than later — probably when Jadeja finishes his quota. A single to Mahmadullah to get off the mark and one to Mushfiqur to retain strike, good over for India this.

Not the ideal time to lose the wicket of a set Tamim Iqbal and in form Shakib. Still, one feels Bangladesh are well placed here. Rahim has already crossed the half-century mark, Mahmudullah is fresh from his match-winning ton against New Zealand. They still have Mosaddek to come. Realistically, Bangladesh can target the 300-mark from here. However to get there, one of Rahim or Mahmudullah has to bat through.

Mahmudullah is the new batsman at the crease, with Mushfiqur still going strong at one end, and expected to anchor the innings from hereon.

That’s a blow for Bangladesh as now Shakib goes as well. India are coming back into this just when it matters and Bangladesh need to find a rearguard here or they’re going to struggle.

OUT! Shakib has to depart early, after getting a thick under edge to keeper MS Dhoni off a delivery from Jadeja. That wicket should bring some confidence back for the Indians. Bangladesh 177/4

Shakib c Dhoni b Jadeja 15(23)

After 34 overs,Bangladesh 177/3 ( Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 60 , Shakib Al Hasan 15)

Jadhav continues. As does Mushfiqur, working the first ball to long on for a single. Jadhav around the wicket, round arm to Shakib forcing the defense and, off the next ball, the mistimed square drive that goes in the air and lands just short of point. Slower ball, and Shakib again can do nothing much with it but play to short cover. So he backs to leg stump, Jadjav follows him, agian short cover in play.

Finally Shakib goes the other way, towards off, pushes the single on the on side to work the single, just two in it. Good, steady bowling from Jadhav, sticking to a simple discipline, not overtrying anything.

After 33 overs,Bangladesh 175/3 ( Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 59 , Shakib Al Hasan 14)

Jadeja into his eighth over, and Shakib ul-Hassan makes room where there was none and finds the boundary off the first ball, through point — the first four in ten overs. And then the two roll the strike over off every ball, one, two three, four, all quite calm and controlled to give them eight in the over.

First boundary for Shakib, and this comes after quite sometime as well! The leading all-rounder goes on his backfoot, and crunches this one through point. Bangladesh 171/3

After 32 overs,Bangladesh 167/3 ( Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 57 , Shakib Al Hasan 8)

Kedar Jadhav continuing, and this spell is giving Kohli some leeway, saving some premium overs and insuring against one of the front line bowlers getting smacked around. It is also providing some cover for Hardik, who has been underwhelming today.

Kedhar not doing much here besides bowling line and length; his variation is mostly in the angle of the arm, occasionally orthodox, once in a while round arm as the surprise variation. Some pressure now being built up in the field with Jadeja in particular outstanding at point.

The partnership of 123 runs between Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim today was the second highest for Bangladesh against India in ODIs. The highest is of 133 runs between Anamul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim for the third wicket came at Fatullah in 2014.

After 31 overs,Bangladesh 164/3 ( Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 56 , Shakib Al Hasan 6)

Jadeja to Shakib. Good start to the over, bowling over the wicket to the left hander, going wide on the crease and spearing the ball in on off on a good length. Point, mid off and midwicket are all well up to stop singles — of which, in this over, there are just three.

After 30 overs,Bangladesh 161/3 ( Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 55 , Shakib Al Hasan 4)

Kedar Jadhav continues. Using the width of the crease very well, and bowling a lot of round arm stuff — almost like a Malinga bowling slow. It’s causing the ball to go through very flat and low to the eyeline, which coupled with the good length means it is skidding on to the batsman and not letting him get under it (or around it with the sweep). Five singles in that over, however, as the new pair settles in.

After 29 overs,Bangladesh 156/3 ( Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 53 , Shakib Al Hasan 1)

So there is India’s chance — the settled partnership broken, new man in (Shakib al-Hassan, coming off recent heroics). Good opportunity to tighten things up, slow the rate down a bit, see if they can rack up some pressure on Bangladesh and see if they crack.

Single to Mushfiqur. Leg slip to the new man, who to the second ball works a single past that fielder. But just two in that over to go with two runs and a wicket in the previous over, by Kedar. Slight shift in momentum here, question for India is whether they can keep this up.

Kedar Jadhav must be the closest a legit bowler would be coming to underarm bowling. With his lack of height he must be releasing the ball at least a foot or lower than even Lasith Malinga. Tamim saw off the best of India’s bowlers quite handsomely. Only to be fooled by Jadhav’s low release, low speed, angled delivery. But who cares. India needed that wicket. A couple more would do a world of good.

After 28 overs,Bangladesh 154/3 ( Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 52 , )

Jadhav continues. Bowls two good balls, both dots, then goes wild and wide down leg and is called. Then comes the short ball that sits up — Mushfiqur cracks the cut at it and Bhuvi Kumar at cover point runs across, dives, stops — does brilliantly, because that was heading to the fence. 

Jadhav hasn’t done too much here, but thanks to straight lines and good fielding, keeps producing dots.

Wicket: Tamim has a sweep/swipe, finds midwicket. So he tries again to the next ball, only in his eagerness he hits harder at the ball, ends up hitting too early, plays all around the ball and is bowled.

Brain fade, that — they were doing very well without all this heave-ho stuff, not sure why Tamim decided he had to hit Kedar out of the attack and preferably out of Birmingham. Also, that ball was a shade fuller in length, which messed with the bat swing.

OUT! Jadhav has got many a breakthrough for captain Kohli in the past, and delivers once again! Tamim misses everything while sweeping off a length delivery, and ends up getting his leg-stump rattled. Bangladesh 154/3

This is turning into a super partnership for Bangladesh, both men moving to their half centuries. They’ve done brilliantly to recover from losing early wickets and are starting to put India under a bit of pressure, much to the delight of the noisy Bangladesh contingent in the crowd.

After 27 overs,Bangladesh 152/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 70 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 51)

Jadeja continues.

For India, the first job now is to pull this run rate back and establish some measure of control — the question is, how. Nothing they have done so far has worked, and they don’t have too many weapons left to try.

Mushfiqur gets to his 50 with a streaky inside edge to fine leg in this over — he was a bit emphatic in his strokeplay early on, but has since settled down to a very sensible style of batting, taking adbantage of the bad balls when they come, but also proactively looking for singles and keeping the score ticking healthily along. This is now turning into a very good partnership for the third wicket, 121 runs at exactly six runs per over.

FIFTY for Mushfiqur Rahim! This is his 26th in ODIs, and his second of the ongoing tournament! Gets there with a single in the second delivery of the 27th over. Bangladesh 149/2

Tamim has once again come good for Bangladesh. What a terrific batsman he has turned out to be in this tournament. He started off his innings slowly today. But with Mushfiqur has put together a wonderful third wicket partnership going strong with a 100 plus runs. Pace and spin bowling are milked alike. India not only need to prise out these two batsmen but also be wary of Bangladesh;s attempt to play aggressively. May be a spot of bowling from Jadhav and Yuvraj would help break the monotony. Looks unlikely that Pandya will be used for 10 overs.

Most century stands for Bangladesh in ODIs:

4 – MUSHFIQUR RAHIM/TAMIM IQBAL*

4 – Mushfiqur Rahim/Shakib Al Hasan

After 26 overs,Bangladesh 148/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 69 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 49)

Ash is off, Kedar Jadhav comes on and Mushfiqur rocks back and pulls the first one, dragged down short. ASh back in action, having to race across and field to keep it down to a single.

In his turn, Tamim rocks back and thumps Jadhav through the covers, single. Kedhar bowls full, drifting outside leg and MR helps it along behind square, single. Tamim eases forward, drives to long off, single. This is now getting very predictable, did you notice?

And the thing about this kind of batting is that they are keeping a very brisk rate of scoring going, with absolutely no risk at all. Six RPO is good for this stage — and if you take this over as example, Bangladesh achieved it by simply ticking singles off every single ball.

Kedar Jadhav introduced into the attack in the 26th over of the innings. Meanwhile, Mushfiqur is on the verge of bringing up his half-century.

After 25 overs,Bangladesh 142/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 66 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 46)

Jadeja continues. Good fielding on the off to ball one, but then an overthrow gives away the single — that was a bit lax. Ball three, Tamim sweeps, hits the shot very nicely, finds the single to the sweeper. So Mushfiqur to the next ball replicates the shot, gets it behind square and finds the time to run two. A single ends the over, five in it and at the halfway stage of the innings, Bangladesh going along at a healthy rate of close to 5.7. There was a measure of control at one point but now that these two have settled against the spinners, runs coming in a flurry and what should be worrying to the Indians, without any risk at all.

After 24 overs,Bangladesh 137/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 65 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 42)

Mushficqur, to the first ball from Ash, repeats the scoop — and plays it very nicely, over Dhoni’s head, gets two before fine leg can run across. Then the sweep played square, gets one. Partnership worth over 100 now, at close to a run a ball; Bangladesh’s penchant for 100-run partnerships continuing here as both batsmen keep chipping and charging, rolling the strike over regularly in this over. A two to start the over, then a single each off the next five balls — Ash getting milked here with ludicrous ease, and holes opening up all over the field.

100-partnership comes up between Tamim and Mushfiqur at the start of the 24th over, with the latter scooping the first ball towards the fine-leg boundary, getting a couple of runs in the process. Bangladesh 132/2

Bangladesh batsmen with three 50-plus scores in an ICC ODI event:

3 – Mahmudullah, 2015 World Cup

3 – Mushfiqur Rahim, 2015 World Cup

3 – TAMIM IQBAL, ICC Champions Trophy, 2017

After 23 overs,Bangladesh 130/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 63 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 37)

Jadeja continues. Mushfiqur nicely forward, whippy drive, good use of the wrist, through midwicket. Bhuvi has to run around and put in the dive to stop four, ends up giving just two. MR takes a single to turn the strike over; Tamim defends to the third ball then guides the fourth to third man for one.

Jadeja goes short and wide to Mushfiqur who uses the width to cut hard, through cover point, gets two more. India leaking runs profusely just now, with both batsmen getting proactive. Single ends the over, Mushfiqur again wristy, working a ball from off stump square on the on.

Be interesting to see what Kohli’s response is. His spinners aren’t giving him control in the middle overs, and Hardik seems to be having a bit of an off day.

After 22 overs,Bangladesh 123/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 62 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 31)

We are getting to that point in the game where something needs to break, or more accurately, someone needs to break the game open — either a batsman going into overdrive, or the bowlers prising out a wicket or two.

It is still Ash, to Mushfiqur, bowling fuller lengths and more air in this over and the third such ends up as a full toss, driven to mid off for one.

Around th wicket to Tamim — Ash hasn’t tried staying over the wicket to the left hander in this innings — and he bowls it short, quicker in the air, and Tamim loves that area. Fully foward, lets the ball get to him and square drives the four. Then reaches well forward to the next one, which is fuller — stays leg side of the ball and lofts to wide long off, four.

Last ball, stays back, lets the ball come on, moves across his stumps, plays it off his pads down to fine leg, a third successive four. Brilliant batting this, each time Tamim anticipated exactly what Ash would do and was ready for him.

Make that a hat-trick of fours for Tamim, as he guides the last ball of the over towards fine-leg! BAN 123/2

Now that’s two fours in as many deliveries! Rocks back, and cuts the fifth delivery of the over towards the extra-cover boundary! BAN 119/2

Tamim decides to take on the spinners now, cutting Ashwin towards the backward point boundary. BAN 115/2

Good progress made by Bangladesh after losing those two early wickets. Both Tamim and Mushfiqur have been around for a decade now and they are showing maturity on this big day. Both have taken calculative risks and those have been paid off so far. The run-rate seems fine. Meanwhile, Tamim has reached yet another half-century. This is his fourth fifty in his last five ODI innings.

After 21 overs,Bangladesh 110/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 50 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 30)

Jadeja — and Mushfiqur premeditates a reverse sweep to the first ball and hits it clean, unlike Tamim in the previous over. Gets it into the vacant space and finds the boundary.

Ball two is floated up; Mushifiqur swats at it, beaten, Dhoni has the bails off and appeals — very quick glove work there.

On the replay, this could be close, to my eye it looks like the toe is on the line, not behind, when the bails come off.

Nope, after a few replays, it turns out the batsman has just got his toe marginally back. Great work though from Dhoni, that was quick as a flash.

A couple of balls later, the firm drive from line of off gets MR a single. Five in the over thanks to that reverse sweep at the start.

Tamim is making the most of his reprieve, and he’s looking a lot more fluent now. Bangladesh need this pair to stick around for a bit if they are going to challenge India. He has brought up his third 50+ score in the 2017 Champions Trophy.

After 20 overs,Bangladesh 105/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 50 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 25)

Ash in for his 5th over of this spell, to Mushfiqur. The slip is off now, the field spreading out. ASh bowling flat and quicker than usual, darting the ball onto that off stump on length, the batsman has only one option which is to push on the on, where Kohli is standing well up to stop singles. Finally, a risky shot, staying back, cutting it almost from the top of off stump — all that trouble and risk just for a single to short third man to end the over.

FOUR! Another reverse-sweep, this time by Rahim and once again going over the short third man fielder. This one turned out to be much more controlled than the one by Tamim. BAN 109/2

After 19 overs,Bangladesh 104/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 50 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 24)

Jadeja replaced Bumrah and to the first ball, Tamim forward, on driving and getting two with placement wide of long on. the next ball is driven again, this time to long on, and one more.

Jadeja with slip in place, to Mushfiqur. Good length, turn away from the batsman cramps MR a bit, he pushes to point. Reaches forward to the next ball, but again there is turn and the push finds cover. Finally he gets that placement right to the next ball, beating cover and finding one to the sweeper to bring up the 100.

Tamim reverse sweeps. Not well played, that, hit too hard at it, top edge and the ball flies just over short third mans head, not a catch but a near thing, and runs down to third man for four — brings up his 50 with that shot.

FIFTY for Tamim Iqbal! He gets there in 62 deliveries, and is now the leading run-getter of the ongoing tournament! He gets to his 37th ODI fifty in 62 deliveries with a reverse-sweep over short third man, with this being his third 50-plus score of the ongoing tournament. BAN 103/2

Ravindra Jadeja introduced into the attack for the first time in the innings, in the 19th over.

After 18 overs,Bangladesh 96/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 43 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 23)

One thing stands out in the first passage of play — India did not expect Bangladesh to come as hard at them as they did. This was most evident in the vehement send off Sabbir Ahmed got after his little cameo — even the usually phlegmatic Bhuvi responded with a word that starts with f and is not fish.

Ash after the break, with the slip still in, and Tamim continues to use the depth of his crease against the off spinner — goes well back to shorten the length and eases the ball to long on for one.

Ash then bowls a bad one, too short, with width outside off and Mushfiqur cuts, gets two behind point, good fielding on the line stops what looked four. To the next ball, skips onto the front foot and drives to long on, single.

Tamim in his turn works ASh to long off, gets one more. Very steady, controlled batting against the spinner, this, forcing Ash to keep altering lines and lengths.

Looks like Bangladesh will target Hardik Pandya. He’s not helped his cause with no-balls & wides. But seems a poor choice for 5th bowler at this time. Batsmen taking their chances against him and getting away with it. His first 3 overs have cost 28 runs.

After 17 overs,Bangladesh 90/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 41 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 19)

Hardik starts with a bouncer, Tamim hooks, rolling his wrist to keep it down, gets the single. Mushfiqur in turn plays with a flick of the wrists and a shut bat face, taking the ball from off and working it behind square for another single. And now Tamim is down the track — predetermined, that, but he nailed it, kept moving leg side to free up room, got space for a free swing of the arms, and hoisted it high and over wide long off for the first six of the innings.

Good cricket, after that big hit, Tamim stays back and guides a single behind point. Hardik bounces Mushfiqur, who goes under it quite comfortably — Hardik is having to hit a very short length to get it to lift, so the batsman has time to see what is coming. Last ball, MR stays back, plays it late, with the open bat face from outside off, gets the run to third man and that is drinks.

90/2 after 17, and Bangladesh doing quite well here despite those two wickets going down. India still chasing the game rather than bossing it, just now.

SIX! The first of the innings! This half-volley was going down Tamim’s leg side, and the batsman decided to adjust himself to the pitch of the delivery, and stylishly flick towards the midwicket boundary! Meanwhile, Tamim and Mushfiqur have brought up the 50-stand for the second wicket. BAN 91/2

After 16 overs,Bangladesh 80/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 33 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 17)

Ashwin continues. Tamim drives him very fluently out to long off for one. Tamim playing Ashwin quite well, really, barring those two occasions when he came dancing down and had to scramble — for the most part, Tamim is reading Ash out of the hand and playing well forward or back.

Mushfiqur plays out a couple of dot balls, then pulls out the scoop, going low and hitting up from under to get the one to fine leg. Tamim for his part stays back, deep in his crease, lets the Ash delivery go past him and then chops down on it, nice late cut, played very fine for four to third man. ASh goes leg stump line for the last ball, and Tamim now sweeps, gets one to fine leg.

Good controlled batting now from Tamim, who seemed a bit uneasy against the seam bowlers; he has been dealing with Ash and Hardik with a great deal more composure.

Third boundary for Tamim, as he opens the face of his bat against Ashwin, guiding it to third man. The ball beats Jadeja on its way to the boundary rope. BAN 79/2

After 15 overs,Bangladesh 71/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 26 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 15)

Hardik continues. Starts with the slower ball. Then bowls the bouncer next up. Tamim was charging down the track, the length and lift defeat his wild swipe. Stays back and gets a single to the third ball, out on the on with a checked push.

Ball four, Hardik much better in this over, the slower ball again, outside off and cutting back in a bit off the seam. Mushfiqur cuts at it and is lucky not to touch through.

The last ball is pushed on the on side; the two batsmen sneak a single despite the fielder being close — that was good calling and running. Last ball, Hardik to Tamim, bouncer, this one the quicker bouncer, but he hits the deck a touch too hard and it flies high off the deck, is called wide.

Slower ball on off and middle, fuller in length, Tamim reads it, plays late, a flick of the wrist sending it in front of square for a single. Much better second over from Hardik, after the first one where he was all over the place and nowhere in particular.

Hardik continues. Starts with the slower ball. Then bowls the bouncer next up. Tamim was charging down the track, the length and lift defeat his wild swipe. Stays back and gets a single to the third ball, out on the on with a checked push.

Ball four, Hardik much better in this over, the slower ball again, outside off and cutting back in a bit off the seam. Mushfiqur cuts at it and is lucky not to touch through.

The last ball is pushed on the on side; the two batsmen sneak a single despite the fielder being close — that was good calling and running. Last ball, Hardik to Tamim, bouncer, this one the quicker bouncer, but he hits the deck a touch too hard and it flies high off the deck, is called wide.

Slower ball on off and middle, fuller in length, Tamim reads it, plays late, a flick of the wrist sending it in front of square for a single. Much better second over from Hardik, after the first one where he was all over the place and nowhere in particular.

After 14 overs,Bangladesh 66/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 23 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 14)

Ash with the slip still in place, but starts with a wide down leg side. Looking to bowl leg stump lines, Ash — Tamim comes skipping down, but can’t get under the ball for the loft he was looking for, pushes it back to the bowler.

Single off ball two, staying back in his crease and pushing a checked drive through cover. Mushfiqur in his turn cuts, from very close to off stump, but finds point. So to the next ball, he sweeps, and gets one behind square.

Tamim comes dancing down again, covering the line of the ball nicely, and drives at the pitch down to long off, single.

SA the other day did nothing to push Indian bowlers off their lines and lengths. Bangladesh doing much better here, trying all sorts of things, forcing the bowlers to keep changing, not letting them settle down to a restrictive line.

Tamim Iqbal is key to Bangladesh’s batting.  India trying everything to get him. Including having only three fielders in the circle! Bangladesh have allowed him to play himself in while other batsmen went after the bowling. Pandya, though does no credit to himself. Bowling no-balls and wides in his expensive opening over. The short-pitched delivery seems to be an obvious ploy India have for Tamim. But so far he seems unfazed by it. He has had a great run in this tournament with one century and one knock of 95. Bangladesh obviously want their batting to revolve around him

After 13 overs,Bangladesh 63/2 ( Tamim Iqbal 21 , Mushfiqur Rahim (W) 13)

Double change — Bhuvi, who has been expensive but also got both breakthroughs, now gives over to Hardik Pandya, bowling around the wicket to Tamim.

Slip for the first ball but by ball two, slip is off, the field spreads a bit. Square leg comes in, down comes the bouncer and Tamim swings into a hook, gets the top edge into space and gets two runs for it. Plus it is a no ball, so free hit follows, and Virat walks back to his place shaking his head furiously.

Tamim swings again. High in the air, straight to deep point, nicely held but it is a free hit. The batsman try for two, the throw comes in but Tamim is just home. Time to say “It’s all happening out there.”

Single to ball three, single to Mushfiqur to third man off ball four. Hardik yet to settle down to this left-right batting combination, struggling to find his best length and line.

And — I said it is all happening,  no? — Hardik round the wicket, makes one climb off length, Tamim tries to slash it square on the off, thick inner edge drags the ball onto the stumps, almost like Soumya earlier, but it is a no ball.

So another free hit. Which turns out to be a wide. So he has to do it over — and Tamim smacks a length ball back past the bowler for four. So finally, that is ball five, after three tries. Hardik showing signs here of feeling pressure. Last ball, goes over the wicket, hits back of length, Tamim controls a pull, finds one to fine leg. Big over for Bangladesh, this. 14 runs came off it.