Team India captain Virat Kohli has promised there will be no let-up from the title-holders when they face Bangladesh in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy at Edgbaston tomorrow.
After a surprise group defeat by Sri Lanka in a tournament featuring the world’s top eight one-day international sides, India responded to their ‘win or go home’ clash against South Africa with a commanding eight-wicket victory over the top-ranked Proteas at the Oval last weekend.
India’s bowlers put the brakes on South Africa’s innings while a trio of run-outs said much about the Proteas’ frailty and the improved fielding standards of Kohli’s men.
Needing a mere 192 for victory, Kohli was there at the finish with 76 not out as India won with a whopping 12 overs to spare. It was an innings that helped take the India skipper back to number one in the ICC ODI batting rankings. Now India return to Edgbaston where they launched their title-defence with a 124-run thrashing of arch-rivals Pakistan.
With Pakistan facing tournament hosts England in Wednesday’s first semi-final in Cardiff, three of the four teams left in the tournament are all from the sub-continent.
Kohli acknowledged the amount of one-day cricket played in the region was a factor, but he has also been impressed with the way so many of the Asian nations have adapted to English conditions.
There was certainly plenty of good work with the ball carried out by Bangladesh’s bowlers as they held New Zealand to a modest 265 for eight in Cardiff last time out. The Tigers were, however, still looking at an embarrassing defeat when they slumped to 33 for four in reply.
But Shakib Al Hasan (114) and Mahmudullah (102 not out) responded to the pressure of a dire position in a must-win game with a brilliant new Bangladesh record partnership of 224 that turned the match upside down and eventually saw New Zealand eliminated. Bangladesh’s place in the last four was confirmed when England beat Australia. India have 26 of their 32 ODIs against Bangladesh, suffering just five defeats with one no result. But Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza believes wins such as the one over New Zealand will bolster the side’s already growing self-belief.
Today’s match
SEMI FINAL -1
Pakistan Vs England
Venue: Cardiff Wales Stadium, Cardiff, 3 pm
Tomorrow’s Match
SEMI FINAL -2
India Vs Bangladesh
Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham, 3 pm
This post was published on June 14, 2017 6:35 pm