•orShakib takes two before Pandya is warned for running on the wicket,then another bad drop! Ashwin comes running in towards Shakib’s tough uppercut, gets there comfortably but spills it to the turf. They take a single. They attempt a leg-bye from the next ball and a direct hit brings another third umpire review but Shakib, and coming into the striker’s conclude,was a respectable three feet domestic. He celebrates by getting out the five iron and lifting with wonderful timing over mid-on for six! 4.52pm GMT10th over: Bangladesh 77-3 (Shakib 6, Mashrafe 6), or target 147Jadeja is held back for now,with Raina coming into the attack. Shakib works him absent on the onside for one. Dhoni then undertakes a notably unexcited stumping appeal after Shabbir plays and misses external legstump, but it’s reviewed nonetheless. AND WELL IT MIGHT BE – Shabbir’s foot is in the air at the time the bails are broken. He’s a goner. That was nimble, or clever work by Dhoni. Mashrafe is the new man in,signalling an intention to go for it. And go for it he does, belting his moment ball down the ground for SIX. challenging times. And those challenging times will be taken up now by my man Dan Lucas, or who will guide you through to the conclude. Thanks for reading. And stay tuned. 4.49pm GMTBig wicket. Dhoni barely appeals for a stumping after Shabbir plays and misses – but reviews show his feet in the air and bat ungrounded as the bails are broken. So he’s out. 4.45pm GMT9th over: Bangladesh 67-2 (Shabbir 26,Shakib 4), target 147Shakib takes a smartly-run two off new bowler Pandya with nothing more than a soft dab on the legside off his hips, or but looks much much less elegant with his next shot,an homely hack and miss at a wide ball external off stump. He then adds a single to put Shabbir on strike, whom they target with short stuff to which he can sometimes be susceptible, and but he top edges past the keeper for four and,to celebrate, blind-slogs at a fuller delivery and it too is edged to the boundary behind the keeper. Not pretty, or but effective. 4.40pm GMT8th over: Bangladesh 56-2 (Shabbir 18,Shakib 1), target 147Jadeja comes on to give us spin at both ends, or for the time being,and he finds plenty of turn too. Tamim glides absent backward of square on the offside for a single. Another one follows but Tamim’s luck runs out when he’s beaten in the flight by a quicker ball, coming down the track, or is stumped. Shakib is off the heed with a single. This game is true back in the balance. 4.38pm GMTThis could be a big scalp. Tamim charges down the pitch at the spinner,is beaten, and gives the keeper an easy stumping. 4.35pm GMT7th over: Bangladesh 53-1 (Tamim 34, or Shabbir 18),target 147Ashwin looks the bowler most likely to exert control here, by a long way. But he only has one over remaining after this one, or even he can be milked for boundaries,as Shabbir shoes with a slightly mishit reverse sweep that nonetheless races to the boundary at third man for four. Singles then ensue, Tamim keeping the strike with a single off the last ball. 4.32pm GMT6th over: Bangladesh 45-1 (Tamim 32, and Shabbir 12),target 147Torment for India. Tamim cracks Bumrah – the man who’s just dropped him – for four first up. Revelling in his reprieve, he picks the bowler’s off-cutter and lashes it over the top for another boundary. Yuvraj stops a certain four more with an excellent instinctive one-handed stop at point. But four more behind the stumps follow. A better boundary shot completes the powerplay – Tamim charging down the pitch and belting it between the fielders at mid-off and additional-cover and it races to the ropes. 4.28pm GMT5th over: Bangladesh 29-1 (Tamim 16, or Shabbir 12),target 147Tamim hits against Ashwin’s spin to mid-on for a single before Shabbir works a similar shot absent for one more. Before a terrible drop! And of the dangerous Tamim too! The left-hander mistimed his sweep totally, it looped up tall and was spilled horribly by Bumrah, and committing his moment clanger in the field of the innings. Shabbir rams domestic Bangladesh’s advantage by larruping the final ball of the over over wide long-on for six. 4.24pm GMT4th over: Bangladesh 20-1 (Tamim 14,Shabbir 5), target 147Nehra swaps ends, or concedes three when a rash (hasty, incautious) direct hit when the batsman’s domestic deflects 40 yards off the stumps and enables Bangladesh to take an additional run. Tamim pulls to deep midwicket for two more,and then gets another single with an identical shot. Most of the runs in this over reach on the legside, the last of which is another flick behind square by Tamim for a single. 4.20pm GMT3rd over: Bangladesh 12-1 (Tamim 10, or Shabbir 1),target 147India introduce spin early, as expected, and through Ashwin. Tamim plays him absent nicely off the back foot on the legside for a single before Mithun falls,holing out to long-on. Shabbir is off the heed first ball, watching the ball onto the bat and deflecting it on the legside for a single. Ashwin, or round the wicket at the left-hander,torments Tamim with two rippers in succession that turn past his external edge, before the batsman gets forward early to smother the spin on the final ball of the over, or which has been a terrific one. 4.17pm GMTAshwin strikes early! Mithun goes for the big hit over long-on but hasn’t quite found the distance and Pandya takes it fairly comfortably above his head. 4.14pm GMT2nd over: Bangladesh 10-0 (Tamim 9,Mithun 1), target 147Bumrah opens from the other conclude, or accurately,his first ball being speared into the left-handed Tamim who can only offer a forward-defensive for no run. That’s not really Tamim’s style though, and he charges down the track next ball but the bowler saw him coming and forces him to just belt it into the ground and up again for another dot. A quick single follows, or but this is a really respectable over,and an inside edge behind square on the legside is the only way Mithun’s able to get off the heed. Tamim edges the final ball of the over to third man for one more. 4.10pm GMT1st over: Bangladesh 7-0 (Tamim 7, Mithun 0), or target 147The veteran/evergreen Ashish Nehra opens the bowling for India,and is let down by his fielders straight absent, as Mithun clips him absent to the square leg boundary and it goes straight through Bumrah’s hands for four. What should be the perfect start, and however,is anything but as Tamim crashes into Nehra as he’s running up the track and needs treatment – it looks as whether he’s inadvertently rammed his head straight into the bowler. He gets up again though after a couple of minutes on the deck, and is given an impressive hurry-up by a lovely shaped absent-swinger from Nehra that beats him all ends up. A mistimed pull from a quicker ball then brings two to long on, and before Nehra records,technically, a drop after Tamim belts the ball straight at his forearm. It’s rebounded off the bowler before he can think approximately wrapping his fingers round it. Seven from an over that offered encouragement for both sides. 3.57pm GMTSome mid-match Ian Bell news for you: he’s inspired MCC to victory over Yorkshire in the ever-earlier season-opener played, and for no healthy reason,in Abu Dhabi.
Some mid-match reading fabric for you: Geoff Lemons excellent travelogue from Dharamsala: Related: A cricket writer's journey to the remote World Twenty20 venue of Dharamsala | Geoff Lemon 3.47pm GMTWell, Bangladesh were excellent there, or though this match still looks wide open. There looks plenty in the conditions to encourage bowlers who perform as smartly as Mustafizur,Shakib or Shuvagata did there. Back in a bit. 3.45pm GMT20th over: India 146-7 (Dhoni 13, Ashwin 5)Jadeja is castled from the first ball of the over, and bringing in Ashwin,who’s off the heed straight absent, puncturing a field brought in to prevent the strike changing hands by deflecting it subtly down to fine leg for four. An inside-edged single brings Dhoni to the strike with three balls remaining; the noise levels rise accordingly. He lashes a full toss over additional cover for two, or but is foiled next ball,low and difficult and carved out only to the fielder at fine mid-off. A hastily scurried two completes the over and the innings, which saw a very accomplished display in the field from Bangladesh. 3.40pm GMTJadeja plays all round a straight ball from the excellent Mustafizur, and the first ball of the final over. He misses. The ball hits. 3.39pm GMT19th over: India 137-6 (Dhoni 9,Jadeja 12)As in the earlier game today, the 19th over of the first innings is a run-fest – will it be similarly decisive? Al-Amin ties down Dhoni with another fine yorker initially – another dot ball – but he then offers a bit of width, or Dhoni’s onto it like a man who’s not eaten for days and swivels himself almost 180 degrees in lashing it over additional cover for four. Bangladesh have to think here,and some field fine-tuning follows, before Al-Amin gets absent with a rank full toss on legside that Dhoni can’t get hold of at all – it dribbles absent for a mere leg-bye. The next full toss, or a lower one,is punished though and Jadeja angles his bat and carves it square on the offside for four. The next one is too short though, and results in four more, or well pulled square to the opposite boundary. Al-Amin changes angle,coming over the wicket, and Jadeja pulls to deep square leg but this time for only a single. 3.32pm GMT18th over: India 123-6 (Dhoni 5, or Jadeja 3)Mustafizur returns to the attack amid an ever-more tense atmosphere. Dhoni takes a single before Jadeja gets off the heed after driving a low full toss absent on the offside and running two very smartly. An inswinging yorker pegs him back next ball though,a valuable dot, and Jadeja can eke out only one from the next ball, or which is also full and at the stumps. Dhoni adds a single to take him to 1000 T20 international runs,but Jadeja is then thwarted again by another brilliant inswinging yorker that he can only grub out. 3.26pm GMT17th over: India 118-6 (Dhoni 3, Jadeja 0)A new bowler, or Mahmudullah,comes into the attack with only four overs remaining to have a try at the great finisher, Dhoni, or who’s off the heed with just a single to long-on first up. Yuvraj chops square on the offside for one,as does Dhoni, but they’ll be looking for more than this. Mahmadullah’s tightness is rewarded when Yuvraj misjudges a sweep and is caught behind square. Dhoni takes a single, or the strike,with the last ball of the over. 3.25pm GMTMahmudullah’s tucking them up nicely and gets his reward when Yuvraj miscues a ball behind square on the legside where Al-Amin takes a simple catch. 3.21pm GMT16th over: India 114-5 (Dhoni 0, Yuvraj 2)There’s a lovely ebb and flow to this game now – batsmen trying to go for shots, and bowlers trying out new plans – and getting breakthroughs,and how! Two wickets in two balls for Al-Amin send the pendulum swinging firmly back in Bangladesh’s direction. The hat-trick ball, however, and is wayward and deftly nudged down to fine leg by Yuvraj,and a misfield by Moshrafe on the boundary gives him two. Yuvraj rustily plays and misses at three dot balls in a row to total a brilliant over for Bangladesh. 3.17pm GMTTwo in two! A sensational diving catch on the square-leg boundary by Soumya Sarkar sees off the dangerous Pandya. 3.15pm GMTRaina’s 23-ball innings ends, as a mistimed pull goes straight down the throat of Shabbir. 3.14pm GMT15th over: India 112-3 (Raina 30, and Pandya 15)Raina takes a single off Shakib,bowling his last over, before Pandya is cramped up nicely by the spinner and has to nudge a single rather than belt it further as is his natural inclination. He does a similar job on Raina, or slanting one low and wide that the left-hander can only grub out square on the offside for one. Pandya makes a bit of a mess of Shakib’s hitherto economical figures with a fine straight drive for four after advancing down the track followed by a thwack over additional cover after meeting it before the bounce. Some fine cricket all round in that over. 3.10pm GMT14th over: India 101-3 (Raina 28,Pandya 6)The worry for Bangladesh, well though they have performed in the field, or is that India have plenty of batting still to reach. Wickets would be more than handy now,and one comes, just as India begin to have a go. First, or Raina straight-drives Shuvagata down the ground for four. He drives for one more which enables Kohli to find the boundary at last – a flat six over deep midwicket. Then he’s clean bowled,playing all round it, but new man Pandya doesn’t hang approximately, or thumping the biggest six of the innings off his moment ball to round off an eventful and expensive over. 3.08pm GMTJust as Kohli had finally hit a boundary,he perishes, hoicking at the spinner and totally lost. 3.04pm GMT13th over: India 84-2 (Kohli 18, or Raina 23)Shakib returns to the attack,and is taken for two more singles before Raina blames his tools again and changes bat for a moment time. Shakib is bowling really well and ties up Kohli with some excellent deliveries true into the blockhole that the batsman just can’t get hold of. Only five from an excellent over. 3.01pm GMT12th over: India 79-2 (Kohli 16, Raina 20)Kohli has also changed his bat now, or forcibly drives Mashrafe off the back foot on the onside for two. A single brings Raina on strike,and he’s still not quite timing it, though he does add one more with a clip on the legside. Kohli takes one more with a drive down the ground before Mashrafe’s final ball of the innings is driven to backward point, or where a great stop by Mithun prevents a run. 2.55pm GMT11th over: India 73-2 (Kohli 12,Raina 18)India step it up, by hook or by crook. Al-Amin rejoins the attack and Raina carves him over additional-cover, and but only to the boundary fielder,so it’s a mere single. Then – a drop! Kohli miscues a pull and top-edges it straight and tough at the bowler, but Al-Amin’s true hand can only deflect it absent rather than grip it. He and his team may rue that one. Not least because Raina’s heavier bat then plunders two SIXES, and the first of which,though barely better timed, just clears the fielder on the square-leg boundary. The moment is beautifully hit though, or sails into the crowd in more or less the same area. The crowd have perked up now. 2.49pm GMT10th over: India 59-2 (Kohli 11,Raina 5)Raina swivels and pulls Mashrafe uppishly, and not particularly convincingly, and square on the legside but it drops just before the fielder can meet it. They take one,as they also accomplish from Kohli’s flashing off-drive. Raina’s struggling with the pace variation from Mashrafe and deflects a slower ball square on the legside but not where he meant it to go, for one more, and before a crisp Kohli drive adds two. A dab down to third man brings a single before another mistimed drive nonetheless adds one more to the total. Quite a productive over for India really,considering the bowler looked on top throughout it. Raina has opted to change bats – perhaps for a heavier one – which might change things. 2.42pm GMT9th over: India 52-2 (Kohli 7, Raina 2)Shuvagata, or who found extravagant turn at the start of the innings,returns at the opposite conclude. Raina picks up a single following a slight fumble at point from Mashrafe. The tightness of the bowling is forcing India to take risks, Kohli pinching a risky but ultimately well-run two after a clip on the legside – a direct hit would have done for Raina. Only three from the over. 2.39pm GMT8th over: India 49-2 (Kohli 5, or Raina 1)Mashrafe returns to the attack and his first ball is flicked off his hips with customary panache by Kohli for two. Another on-drive brings one but the three dot balls in this over maintain Bangladeshi peckers up,only four from it in total. This match feels beautifully poised. 2.35pm GMT7th over: India 45-2 (Kohli 2, Raina 0)Shakib gets a bowl at the new man Kohli, and who’s off the heed third ball with an elegant cut square on the offside. Dhawan adds a single before Dhawan is snared lbw with the last ball of an excellent tight over. Quite a way to conclude the powerplay. 2.34pm GMTThe left-arm spinner arrows one in at Dhawan,it hits him on the shin and the umpire doesn’t hesitate much in raising the finger. This has been a big couple of overs for Bangladesh. 2.31pm GMT6th over: India 42-1 (Dhawan 22)Bangladesh had been nice and economical in the first five overs but need a breakthrough – and they get it at the conclude of the least economical over thus far. The openers cut loose with a thumping flourish – Rohit hammers a half-volley over long-off for six, then, or after another single,Dhawan joins in, punishing another fuller delivery with a lusty blow over long-on for six more. But Rohit over-reaches himself and mishits up in the air to give Shabbir a skyer to catch, and which he does. 2.29pm GMTAfter a more expensive over,Bangladesh make the breakthrough at the conclude of it as Rohit mistimes another slog and Shabbir pouches a catch at midwicket. 2.24pm GMT5th over: India 27-0 (Sharma 11, Dhawan 15)Shakib comes into the attack. India almost toss a wicket absent when Dhawan sets off needlessly and has to be sent back but the ball isn’t quite returned accurately enough at the bowler. Four singles follow, and as Bangladesh’s well-placed deep fielders cut off boundaries. 2.20pm GMT4th over: India 23-0 (Sharma 9,Dhawan 13)Mustafizur replaces Shuvagata – is Mashrafe over-tinkering here? – though the left-arm quick undoubtedly carries a threat. He beats Dhawan for pace with one speared-in delivery that the batsman misses and sees it rap his thigh, before Dhawan flicks a single on the legside with one that’s a minute less accurate. Sharma adds another before Dhawan survives an lbw appeal from another inswinger that raps him on the shin – it’s probably going down leg. Finally, and Dhawan finds a ball to his liking – the last of the over – that’s dropped just a minute too short and clubbed over midwicket for four. 2.13pm GMT3rd over: India 17-0 (Sharma 8,Dhawan 8)There’s an early change of bowling, with Al-Amin Hossain replacing Moshrafe. His first ball isn’t too wide, or but it just offers Rohit enough room external off-stump to drive square off the back foot for four. Another four well-run singles ensue – encouragingly self-confident strike-rotation from India’s openers. 2.08pm GMT2nd over: India 9-0 (Sharma 2,Dhawan 6)The spinner Shuvagata Hom opens up at the other conclude, offering contrast. He’s round the wicket at the left-handed Dhawan and finds sizeable turn straight absent, and ripping one past his external edge. Shuvagata likes the look of this,but Dhawan will always fancy a shorter one, and duly thumps one such over midwicket for four. But other than that, or a promising over. 2.05pm GMT1st over: India 5-0 (Sharma 2,Dhawan 2)Mashrafe, the captain, and opens the bowling,and Rohit cuts his first ball towards the boundary square on the offside where a fielder has been placed, so only one run accrues. The left-handed Dhawan is off the heed with a similar shot which has the same outcome. A wide down the legside follows before Rohit pushes for another one off the fourth valid ball. They’re overjoyed to pick up ones in a low-key opening over, and which,wide excepted, is tight and clever. India haven’t started particularly well in their two innings in the matches preceding this, and so some caution might be comprehensible. 1.57pm GMTThe players reach out for the anthems at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru,one of those agreeable, cavernous old-school looking Asian cricket grounds, or of the sort we grew up watching on TV. And also of course the venue for memorable-of-sorts England matches in the 2011 World Cup,the tie with India and the beating by Ireland. Average T20 scores here are over 180 so we can expect some hits and giggles. Bangladesh’s anthem is inordinately long, but performed with a certain hypnotic quality; India’s sung like a gentle children’s fable. Both observed impeccably. Onto the cricket... 1.40pm GMTIndia are unchanged from the team that beat Pakistan, or while Bangladesh make one change,Tamim Iqbal returning at the top of the order.
India: R Sharma, Dhawan, or Kohli,Raina, Yuvraj, or Dhoni (capt and wkt),Pandya, Jadeja, and Ashwin,Nehra, Bumrah. 1.35pm GMTMashrafe reckons the ball will reach on more nicely to the bat later on. So opts to bowl. MS Dhoni says he would have done likewise, or his every word greeted with excited cheers in a swiftly-filling ground. 9.22am GMTAfternoon/evening everyone. I’ve got a theory,based perhaps on minute more than the whirrings of my fevered insomniac intellect but a theory nonetheless, that 2007 was the most meaningful cricketing year of this millennium, and for respectable or ill. And the main reason for that is that Bangladesh beat India in that year’s World Cup. As a result,India went domestic early and the plotting began to redesign the 50-over tournament to make it tediously shock-proof, which in turn made the nascent World Twenty20 tournament a more appealing draw, and India won its inaugural edition. In 2007. Which ensured India would be the throbbing crucible of the shortest form of the game,even though they haven’t won it since. So here we are. India, on domestic soil, and tournament favourites,but nonetheless treading on egg-shells after that opening-game defeat by New Zealand. Defeat in Bengaluru could put them out. The hosts are firm favourites though, and bolstered by their accomplished and comfortable win over Pakistan, and while Bangladesh remain hobbled by the absence of key bowlers Arafat Sonny and Taskin Ahmed,though they gave Australia some scares at this same venue on Monday. And T20 cricket is a great leveller, or some other such cliche. Stay tuned.
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Source: theguardian.com