India became the second team, after South Africa, to reach the semifinals of the 2015 World Cup. The team beat Bangladesh by 109 runs in the second quarterfinal match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday. This was India’s seventh win on the trot, in this tournament. The defending champions were brimming with confidence from the time they took the field against Bangladesh. India won the toss and rightly opted to bat.
Spearheaded by Rohit Sharma’s 137, the defending champions took giant steps in the middle-over to make a commendable 302 at the loss of six wickets in 50 stipulated overs. In reply, Bangladesh could only manage 193 from 45 overs. India are now removed from their second consecutive World Cup win by just two matches. India also need those two wins to make MS Dhoni the most successful Indian captain in terms of World Cup wins. Dhoni currently has 100 wins as captain from 177 matches (60 per cent success rate). He will equal Australia’s Ricky Ponting and the West Indies’ great Clive Lloyd’s record of two World Cup wins, should India take the cup home.
For that to happen, India need to keep playing the way they have been during this competition. The Bangladesh match was no different in that respect. Today, it was Rohit Sharma all the way. He was in complete control of things from the beginning. India lost wickets in his presence, but Rohit was unperturbed. He kept his cool and took India to a very respectable position with Suresh Raina.
The Indian pace attack made early inroads for their team with the ball. Both Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav kept surprising and challenging the Bangladeshi frontline batsmen to which there was no answer. The spinners too complimented the pace department well. For the seventh time in row, the Indian bowlers dismissed their opposition in this World Cup. India have seventy wickets from seven matches.
Everything that happened on the field involving India and Bangladesh was as expected. Opener Rohit Sharma reached a century off 108 balls. Rohit also made his seventh ODI ton with 10 fours and a six. He was fortunate to have escaped getting dismissed on 90. He was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Bangladesh pacer, Rubel Hossain, and umpire Ian Gould signalled it as a no-ball. It was an above the waist-high ball. The TV replays indicated it to be a legitimate delivery.
India achieved three things during the match. Inconsistent Rohit Sharma got those all-important runs, Ravindra Jadeja impressed with an all-round performance and Umesh Yadav took four wickets. These three cricketers weren’t at par with India’s top performers, but during this match all three made worthy contributions.
