Asian Games 2023 cricket: India beat Bangladesh to reach the final
The Indian cricket team won the semi-finals by nine wickets. Sai Kishore starred with the ball by picking up three wickets while Tilak Verma scored a fifty.
Cricket
India advanced into the finals of the Asian Games 2023 men’s cricket tournament in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China after defeating Bangladesh in the semi-finals at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field by nine wickets on Friday.
Batting first, Bangladesh were reduced to 96/9 in 20 overs courtesy of a terrific spell from Sai Kishore, who registered figures of 3/12 in four overs. Washington Sundar picked up two wickets as well.
In response, a blazing partnership between Ruturaj Gaikwad (40* off 26 balls) and Tilak Verma (55* off 26 balls) saw the Indian men’s cricket team get to its target in 9.2 overs.
India’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss paid dividends instantly. The Bangladeshi openers struggled to get going and towards the end of the powerplay overs, they lost three wickets. Sai Kishore provided the breakthrough by dismissing Mahmudul Hasan Joy in the fifth over before Washington Sundar sent Saif Hassan and Zakir Hasan packing in the sixth.
The Indian spin attack, also comprising Ravi Bishnoi (1/26), Tilak Verma (1/5) and Shahbaz Ahmed (1/13), made great use of the slow pitch in Hangzhou by restricting the run flow in the middle overs.
A late effort from Jaker Ali (24* off 29 balls) and Rakibul Hasan (14* off six balls) helped the Bangladesh cricket team, gold medallists from Guangzhou 2010, get to 96 runs in 20 overs. Sai Kishore shone with his left-arm spin, picking three wickets in only his second international appearance.
In the run chase, the early departure of Yashasvi Jaiswal didn’t faze the Indian batters. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tilak Verma unsettled the Bangladeshi bowlers with a flurry of boundaries. Gaikwad got going with a four in the first over, before smashing 21 runs off Ripon Mandal in the third over.
Tilak Verma too, like his skipper, took advantage of the short boundaries and field restrictions. The duo raced to a 50-run stand in only 18 deliveries and collected 67 runs in the opening five overs. Tilak Verma, playing his eighth T20 international, brought up his first half-century in 25 balls.
Both batted with caution after the powerplay and took the Indian cricket team to the winning mark in 9.2 overs. In 13 T20 matches between these teams, India have now won 12 matches while Bangladesh have only one win to their credit.
India will face the winner of the second semi-final between Pakistan and Afghanistan for the gold medal on Saturday.
India vs Bangladesh brief scores
Bangladesh 96/9 in 20 overs (Jaker Ali 24, Sai Kishore 3/12) lost to India (Ruturaj Gaikwad 40, Tilak Verma 55*)*