India clinch title with Karthik's last-ball six

FT ONLINE

India clinched title of the Nidahas Trophy T20I Tri-nation series beating Bangladesh by four wickets in the nail-biting final held on Sunday at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Chasing a winning target of 167-run set by Bangladesh, India reached home making 168 for the loss of six wickets in 20 over. Cameo Dinesh Karthik starts of India's dramatic victory as he crumbled Bangladesh's hope hitting a six in the last ball of the innings off Soumya's delivery.

The wicket keeper batsman Dinesh blasted 8-ball off 29 runs, an innings that studded with two boundaries and three over boundaries securing India's victory to remain unbeaten till the end of the innings.

Earlier, Shaikb struck early on Indian innings as he sent back to Shikhar Dhawan (10) in his second overs. Suresh Raina also lasted a little as he returned to the pavilion without disturbing the scoreboard off Rubel Hossain's delivery, leaving India in trouble.

Skipper Rohit Sharman, who top scored in Indian innings with a classy 42-ball off 56-run took the responsibility to stop the rot as he shared 51-run for the third wickets stand with Lokesh Rahul (24) before Rubel broke the partnership removing Rahul.

Nazmul Islam brought Bangladesh in match as he sent back to danger man Rohit who gave an easy catch to Mahmudullah while Manish added a useful contribution of a 27-ball off 28-run.

Earlier, Sabbir Raahman blasted 50-ball off 77-run as Bangladesh scored a challenging total of 166 for 8 from their allotted 20 overs, after they were forced to bat first.

Yuzvendra Chahal (3/18) and Jaydev Unadkat (2/33) took Bangladesh wickets at regular intervals, but Sabbir kept the scoreboard busy from one end. Bangladesh's innings were jolted by two run-outs too but Mehidy Hasan (19 not out off 7 balls) compensated by scoring 18 runs off Shardul Thakur's final over.

For India, Washington Sundar (1/20) also had a good outing but Vijay Shankar (0/48) and Thakur (0/45) gave away 93 runs in eight overs.

Earlier, the Tigers had a good start coring 27 for no loss in three overs, but they lost three wickets in ten balls to be reduced to 33/3 after five overs. Sundar gave India an early breakthrough when he removed Liton Das (11) in the fourth over.

Then Indian skipper Rohit gave the ball to Chahal in the next over and the wrist spinner rattled the Bangladesh innings with a double strike first dismissing Tamim Iqbal (15) and four balls later, Soumya Sarkar (1).

The right handed batsman Sabbir along with Mushfiqur Rahim, stabalised the innings with a 35-run stand for the fourth wicket in 5.1 overs. Sabbir targeted all-rounder Shankar to increase the scoring rate as he hit a six and a four in consecutive balls in the eighth over and took the team over 50-mark. Chahal broke the partnership in the 11th over by dismissing the in-form Rahim (9).

The arrival of Mahmudullah gave Bangladesh some momentum. Sabbir and Mahmudullah added quick 36 runs in 4.1 overs taking Tigers over three-figure mark. They were going good but a miscommunication in the 15th over led to a mix-up, which resulted in the run out of Mahmudullah, who hit two fours for his 16-ball 21.

Sabbir continued his onslaught and then hit Sundar for a six in the next over - enroute to his fourth T20I fifty, which came in 37 balls with the help of five fours and two sixes.

Tigers lost their skipper Shakib Al Hasan (7) in the 17th over through another run out. Unadkat then put an end of Sabbir's impressive innings in the penultimate over before dismissing Rubel Hossain for his second.