Rohit Sharma makes a brilliant century and Virat Kohli unbeaten on 96 as India chase down Bangladesh’s total with ease to set up final with Pakistan
Related: India set up Pakistan Champions Trophy final with defeat of Bangladesh
Related: Joe Root says England must stick with swashbuckling style despite defeat
Right, that’s it from me. Rob Smyth and Tim de Lisle will be here to guide you through Sunday’s final. Thanks as ever for all your emails and tweets. Stick around on site for all the reports and reaction but from me, cheerio!
Here’s Virat Kohli: “We’re going to approach the final as every other game. The side that has more composure has a better chance. I’m confident of our team coming up with the goods.”
in short, if you don't get him out for a duck you're buggered
All of which means, it’ll be an India-Pakistan final at the Oval on Sunday. What an occasion that’ll be.
“I was quite determined today to get a big one and get the team through,” says Rohit Sharma. “As a team we’ve been playing really good cricket. We know it’s a big one on Sunday but for now we’ll cherish this victory.”
Well, India made that look effortless. Sharma was superb, Kohli something close to perfection. He finishes unbeaten on 96, while Sharma’s 123 takes him to within 13 runs of Shikhar Dhawan at the top of the runscorers charts for this tournament. Bangladesh just didn’t have the firepower with the ball to defend such a meagre total but that was still a wonderful effort with the bat from India.
Kohli plants the first ball through the covers for four and India win it with 9.5 overs remaining.
40th over: India 261-1 (Sharma 123, Kohli 92) Kohli is more concerned about getting this match won than securing his century so he takes a single off the second ball. Sharma does likewise from the next. And Kohli follows up with another from the next. And Sharma follows him. Kohli snaffles the strike again. He can still just about make it to a ton with a three followed by a six but he doesn’t look too fussed.
39th over: India 256-1 (Sharma 121, Kohli 89) Rauncy malt drink seller Sabbir Rahman into the attack and the ball into the stands at midwicket, Kohli clubbing him away for four. He brings up 8,000 ODI runs with a single. No one has reached that mark quicker. He snaffles the strike with a single. Kohli requires 11 for his hundred, India need nine to win.
38th over: India 249-1 (Sharma 120, Kohli 83) I suggested earlier that Bangladesh were 50-odd runs short of a competitive total but given the way India have batted I’d say they were at least 100 runs short – you’d back them to chase down 350 in this mood. Kohli tickles off the pads for four to fine leg then Sharma thrashes Shakib over extra cover for four more.
37th over: India 239-1 (Sharma 115, Kohli 78) Taskin offers Kohli a short ball outside off that screams “Hit me to the point boundary!” and Kohli obliges. Then he dabs to third man for a single. Sharma’s not going to let him make his century though – he batters a pull away for four more. He’s only 20-odd runs short of ousting his opening partner as the leading runscorer in the tournament. Ten from the over. Just 26 more needed.
36th over: India 229-1 (Sharma 110, Kohli 73) Shakib again. Five singles from the over. India cruising.
35th over: India 224-1 (Sharma 108, Kohli 70) Taskin (5-0-33-0) once more and … OOF! Sharma punches a half-volley back down the ground for four more. Fine shot. Six from the over.
Wondering if Virat Kohli can sneak another hundred in here - what would be his 16th in successful run chases... (already has a record 15)
34th over: India 218-1 (Sharma 103, Kohli 69) Bangladesh are beginning to look like they want this over and done with. Kohli clubs Shakib through the covers for four to bring the runs-required to below 50.
33rd over: India 212-1 (Sharma 102, Kohli 64) The Fiz, who, ahem, has been pretty flat today, returns to the attack. Kohli effortlessly pushes back down the ground for four then tickles into the leg side for a single. He’s been flawless today – there’s not been a hint of a sniff of a suggestion of him losing his wicket, and he’s moved on to 64 from 53 balls. From the last ball of the over Sharma brings up his century, his 11th in ODIs, with a hook for six that just evades the man at deep backward square leg. Another brilliant knock.
32nd over: India 201-1 (Sharma 96, Kohli 59) Shakib keeps things tight again. Just three singles from the over.
31st over: India 198-1 (Sharma 95, Kohli 57) Mahmadullah gets to turn his arm over for the first time today. His loosener almost lands closer to his feet than the batsman’s and Sharma clanks a pull shot to the midwicket boundary. He then strays too full to Kohli and gets lashed through the covers for his troubles. Four more. Ten from the over.
30th over: India 188-1 (Sharma 90, Kohli 52) Shakib is bowling nicely but this time with very little threat. Kohli brings up the 100 partnership (from 89 deliveries) with a gentle push down the ground for a single.
@John_Ashdown A lady in the crowd holding up "Don't show me on TV I'm off sick" made me laugh. What's the best crowd signs OBOers have seen?
29th over: India 185-1 (Sharma 88, Kohli 51) Tum-te-tum-te-tiddly-tum … the batsmen breezily help themselves to a bundle of singles with a skip and a cheery wink. And from the last Kohli pummels Taskin down to cow corner for four runs that bring up his half century from just 42 balls.
28th over: India 177-1 (Sharma 86, Kohli 45) Agony for Bangladesh! Shakib (2-0-18-0) returns to the attack and induces a leading edge from Sharma. The ball steeples into the Birmingham sky and seems to be up for an age but somehow drops safe. India need 88 more from 22 overs.
27th over: India 173-1 (Sharma 84, Kohli 43) Good stuff from Taskin – four dot balls to start the over, which feels like the first time we’ve had four dots in a row in this innings. Eventually, though, he gives Sharma a bit too much width and the opener cuts uppishly to deep backward point for a single that breaks the pressure. That single, though, is the only run off an excellent over.
26th over: India 172-1 (Sharma 83, Kohli 43) Shot! Kohli unfurls one of those deluxe double-cream full-fat taste-the-difference cover drives and picks up four more. Eight from Mosaddek’s latest over.
25th over: India 164-1 (Sharma 81, Kohli 37) The burly Taskin returns to the fray. And from the last he beats Rohit Sharma’s outside edge by a whisker. Well bowled. At the halfway stage, though, India need just 101 more.
24th over: India 161-1 (Sharma 80, Kohli 35) Mortaza rolls the dice: here comes Mosaddek Hossein and his off-breaks. Tidy enough, but he can’t stem the flow – five simple singles off the over.
23rd over: India 156-1 (Sharma 78, Kohli 32) Kohli does it again! Another cracking cover drive as Rubel overpitches a touch. He follows it up with another clip down to cow corner for three and the India captain has raced on to 32 from 24 balls. Sharma joins the party with a glorious late cut for four more and from the last Rubel offers him a rank, wide half-tracker that gets exactly what it deserves – pulverised to the point boundary for four. India are running away with this.
22nd over: India 139-1 (Sharma 69, Kohli 24) Cheerio everyone. I’m off out for a candlelit dinner with this Virat Kohli cover drive. Textbook stuff from the India captain, and it came hot on the heels of a perfectly time clip through midwicket for four. Back-to-back boundaries as Mustafizur’s struggles continue. Sharma adds the salt with two of the last. Eleven from the over.
21st over: India 128-1 (Sharma 67, Kohli 15) Rubel keeps things tidy but he’s not troubling the batsmen at all. Four effortless singles off the over as India go back into cruise mode.
20th over: India 124-1 (Sharma 65, Kohli 13) Mustafizur scurries in once more. Kohli drives him straight down the ground – economical, sumptuous, four.
19th over: India 118-1 (Sharma 64, Kohli 8) This is more like it. Kohli flaps Rubel down to cow corner with an unorthodox overhead bunt – a bit like a tennis smash played at half speed – and Sharma gets in on the act with a thunking pull for four then a deft late dab so clever it does cryptic crosswords and sudoku in its spare time. Four more – 12 from the over.
18th over: India 106-1 (Sharma 55, Kohli 5) The Fiz returns to the attack. His two overs earlier went for 21 but India’s frenzied start has given way to a sedate spell, the batsmen drifting along with the current, fingers trailing in the water, sun hats pulled low over the eyes. Sharma bumps him through the covers for a couple – too close to the man at short extra for comfort – and Kohli has to dig out another fine yorker from the last.
17th over: India 102-1 (Sharma 52, Kohli 4) The India captain takes his team to three figures with a single off Rubel, who finishes a fine over with an excellent attempted yorker that Sharma does well to dig out. Three singles from it.
16th over: India 99-1 (Sharma 51, Kohli 2) Sharma thrashes Shakib through point for back-to-back boundaries, the first of which should not have evaded Mortaza but the captain’s attempt to stop the ball resembled a slowly toppling wardrobe. Sharma then pushes the ball down the ground to go to his 50 from 57 balls. Kohli gets off the mark with a single from the next.
15th over: India 87-1 (Sharma 41, Kohli 0) Mortaza did for Dhawan with an off-cutter there – it looked like Dhawan had thrown his wicket away but it’s actually a very crafty bit of bowling. So Bangladesh have their breakthrough then. A couple more in short order could make things interesting.
Mortaza continues into his eighth over. He bangs one in short and Dhawan responds with a thunking pull for four but next up he’s gone! Well, well, well. That came out of nowhere. Dhawan dances down the track and looks to plant the ball into the stands at long off but slices it straight to the man at backward point.
14th over: India 83-0 (Sharma 41, Dhawan 42) Great minds: Shakib al Hasan is into the attack. There’s no turn for him really, so the batsmen are happy enough to nudge and nurdle, push and poke, tap and tickle, for ones and twos. Six from the over.
13th over: India 77-0 (Sharma 37, Dhawan 40) Mortaza is backing himself here – the Bangladesh captain is in to his seventh over. Sharma biffs him through the covers for one and Dhawan pulls for likewise. Three singles from the over. Tidy enough, but Bangladesh need to find a wicket from somewhere. Time for some spin?
12th over: India 74-0 (Sharma 35, Dhawan 39) Dhawan has played a couple of shots powerful enough to have Thor cowering in the corner but here he shows a deftness of touch, almost casually flicking Rubel for four to fine leg.
“The BCB definitely thought that Sabbir Rahamn ad was so suggestive that they pulled it,” writes Kat Petersen. “As a world class pedant I also feel obliged to point out that the drink in question isn’t beer but one of those weird alcohol-free malt-based soft drinks.” Like the man in the orthopaedic shoes, I stand corrected.
11th over: India 67-0 (Sharma 33, Dhawan 34) Mortaza, whose figures of 5-0-18-0 are excellent in the circumstances, continues and again restricts the batsmen to singles, four of them in total. Sharma has moved on to 33 from a stately 44 balls, Dhawan’s blistering 34 has come from just 22 deliveries.
10th over: India 63-0 (Sharma 31, Dhawan 32) Rubel Hossain comes into the attack. Or, more accurately, he comes into the defence – there’s only one team attacking at the moment and it’s not Bangladesh. Sharma guides him down to third man for two and it takes a brilliant stop at point from Soumya Sarkar to deny him a boundary after another crashing cut shot.
9th over: India 60-0 (Sharma 29, Dhawan 31) Mortaza finds a modicum of control here, restricting the batsmen to a couple of nudged singles and a two. And breathe.
8th over: India 56-0 (Sharma 26, Dhawan 30) Taskin drops short and Dhawan pings him through backward point for four then pulls for four more. The bowler doesn’t learn his lesson, though, and from the last Dhawan sends a pull whistling into the stands at midwicket. A huge six! These two are making this look very, very easy at the moment and in some style too.
Speaking of style, did you know that Bangladesh’s Sabbir Rahman last year starred in an advert for beer with the most hilariously suggestive final shot I think I’ve ever seen in a commercial …
7th over: India 40-0 (Sharma 25, Dhawan 15) My word, Rohit Sharma is treating us here, this time with a pull so meaty it should come served with a side salad and a dash of gentlemen’s relish. Four more. Mortaza gets the treatment this time.
6th over: India 36-0 (Sharma 21, Dhawan 15) Taskin Ahmed replaces the out-of-sorts Mustafizur and finds Sharma’s edge but the ball doesn’t carry to the man at slip. The youngster is neat and tidy for the most part but from the last Dhawan unfurls a pull shot of furious intent and thunderous power – four of the best.
5th over: India 31-0 (Sharma 20, Dhawan 11) Rohit Sharma’s at it again, guiding Mortaza down to cow corner with an insouciant flick off the pads. It’s one-way traffic at the moment – India have raced to 31 in fine style.
I have to agree with Vish on the Champions Trophy playlist – it’s horrendous. Eric Prydz’s Call On Me, a song that was terrible when it was released 13 years ago and no one has listened to in at least a decade, blares out between overs here.
4th over: India 25-0 (Sharma 15, Dhawan 10) Sharma strokes effortlessly through point for four as Mustafizur strays wide again then has Edgbaston purring with a glorious cover drive for four more, giving it the full one-knee and hold-the-pose. A shot so good-looking it could model swimming trunks. Oh, he’s spoiling us here – from the last ball he pushes with immaculate timing down the ground for four more. Twelve from the over, and you won’t see 12 more aesthetically pleasing runs this tournament.
3rd over: India 13-0 (Sharma 3, Dhawan 10) Mortaza keeps things tight.
“The only chance I see for Bangladesh is to have is to get India at least three down for nothing, and even that may not be enough,” writes Pratik Dubey. “At one point we really were staring at a tough competition, now it looks like a cake walk for the Indian team.”
2nd over: India 11-0 (Sharma 2, Dhawan 9) Mustafizur offers Dhawan a little width and pays for the mistake – Dhawan caressing through the covers for four, then crashing a cut to the boundary next up. During the Bangladesh innings Dhawan saw Tamim nudge past him at the top of the leading runscorers chart for this tournament but he’s already well on his way to getting back to the summit.
1st over: India 2-0 (Sharma 2, Dhawan 0) Rohit Sharma gets off the mark immediately, turning Mashrafe Mortaza to deep backward square leg for a couple, but plays-and-misses at the next. And the Bangladesh captain is on the money for the rest of the over. Just the two from it.
Out come the players. Chase on …
Hello all. Are we well? I’m fine (though, full disclosure, I have a pork pie next to me, so why the hell wouldn’t I be fine?). And I reckon India will be feeling pretty fine too. When Tamim and Mushfiqur were going along nicely Bangladesh looked to be threatening 300+ but the innings unravelled rather from the midpoint. They’re surely 50-odd runs short of a winning total here. But then this has been a tournament for the unexpected …
50th over: Bangladesh 264-7 (Mashrafe 30, Taskin 11) Solid first half to the final over is ruined somewhat by an injury to Bhuvi Kumar. Looks like he twisted his left ankle on his follow-through, falling to the ground as he did so. But he’s back on his feet to finish the job. Just six runs coming from it and one of those was a wide from the bowler. Considering Bangladesh were 159 for two in the 28th over, it has been an exceptional comeback from India to concede just 105 in the final 22. Still - something to defend for Masrafe Mortaza and a diverse bowling attack. That’s all from me. You’ve all been a delight. John Ashdown will be with you shortly.
49th over: Bangladesh 258-7 (Mashrafe 27, Taskin 9) Ha - another four behind the stumps! Again from a Mortaza top edge!
India should just have nine men behind the wicketkeeper. #CT17
48th over: Bangladesh 248-7 (Mashrafe 18, Taskin 8) Taskin comes to the party at the end of a brilliant over from Kumar. Five dots sullied, somewhat, by an outside edge from the left-hander’s bat which scurries beyond Dhoni for four.
Excellent areas from Jeffery Earp: “I’m becoming ever more convinced that the Game/Tournament/Human Existence is simply a pretext for the really important matter, i.e. working out how, where and why England got it all wrong. It’s as if the whole point of coitus were the post-coital cigarette.”
47th over: Bangladesh 244-7 (Mashrafe 18, Taskin 4) Somehow, Mortaza digs out a yorker on middle stump which bounces over Dhoni for four runs. Go home Physics – you’re drunk.
Bit of a moan from me: think the music at the Champions Trophy has been appalling. Does not seem to be any instinctive feel for those in charge of the tunes, nor appreciation of the moments when you could really go big on a classic rather than a rehash of 2013’s summer anthems. Give the domestic Kiwi DJs the job and crank Tears for Fears up to 11.
46th over: Bangladesh 236-7 (Mashrafe 13, Taskin 1) The last five wickets have fallen for 70 runs – thanks Ian Bishop. A disappointed and slightly predictable collapse. Mushfiqur and Tamim were going great guns but it’d be wrong to lay the blame at the feet of the batsmen given how well India’s bowlers performed in that same period. Mashrafe swinging for the fences and, in doing so, finds four over the keeper with as a pull shot goes awry. Still – runs all the same.
When India were in trouble -Bangladesh 170-2 - they found a way, which is the stuff of champions: bowling spin quickly in pace and over-rate
45th over: Bangladesh 229-7 (Mashrafe 7) Hmmmm think Bumrah’s got away with a full toss above hip height there. Gets rid of Mahmudullah the ball after.
“Hello from Arundel,” writes Phil Makepeace, OPTA bod, Chess Grandmaster and general good egg. “Danny Briggs is teaching the South African tourists a thing or two. When I was in Philadelphia a few weeks ago, the main obstacle to explaining my cricket scoring profession was exactly what Richard Willmsen says at 12:23pm. My hosts understood the rules reasonably well after a few overs of YouTube footage but didn’t get the narrative. ‘If it takes two days for the other side to have a go, how do you know who’s winning?’”
Too good, Jasprit. The perfect yorker, as Mahmudullah advances down the pitch. Quick, moving in late. Boxes ticked, stumps akimbo.
44th over: Bangladesh 226-6 (Mahmudullah 19, Mashrafe 6) Kumar is mashed by Mortaza! Two deliveries – a full ball that nips in and nearly traps him LBW and then a brilliant yorker sandiwch a cracking THWACK over midwicket for four.
43rd over: Bangladesh 220-6 (Mahmudullah 18, Mashrafe 1) Two great bumpers from Bumrah. The first sends Mosaddek back to the changing room. The second puts Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza on his backside.
Some more advice, this time from Jeffery Earp in Italy: “Couple your fledgling interest in the game with exploration of a complementary scientific domain such as entomology, ornithology or meteorology. Astronomy’s good for day-night matches.”
That’s what extra pace gets you... Mosaddek can’t deal with a short ball into the body of batsman, who has enjoyed a lot of width so far. He can’t go through with the pull and ends up spooning a catch back to Bumrah.
42nd over: Bangladesh 218-5 (Mahmudullah 17, Mosaddek 15) First ball of the over is met by The Reverse Sweep of Mahmudullah, which is an Indiana Jones film I’d love to see. Four stars.
The last time Jadeja got 3 wickets in an ODI was 25 innings earlier in October 2014. Is he one of your best spinners?.
41st over: Bangladesh 212-5 (Mamudullah 12, Mosaddek 14) Fantastic shot through extra cover from Mosaddek. Stands up straight and throws his hands through a ball on the up, beating cover with ease but still managing to get it wide enough of mid off. Bumrah the bowler, who finishes by beating the outside edge.
ICYMI Eoin Morgan’s comments in yesterday’s post-match press conference have been making a stir:
Related: Eoin Morgan admits to England regrets after dismal Champions Trophy exit
While you’re here and thinking of England, here’s Barney Ronay’s take on yesterday’s defeat:
Related: England’s familiar exit leaves ECB’s dream scenario out of reach
40th over: Bangladesh 207-5 (Mahmudullah 11, Mosaddek 10) PENALTY RUNS KLAXON!!! Bangladesh pass 200 with a couple of leg byes but the big news is penalty runs after Dhoni throws at the stumps and hits. However, the ball bounced off his strewn left glove. Who wants to explain penalty runs to Richard Willmsen?
“Is it cowardly,” starts Ian Copestake, promisingly, “to feel an increasing anger on behalf of England after their exit? Pakistan were fantastic but when a hosting nation organises their own tournament giving their own team absolutely no advantage whatever (play the match on Pakistan’s home pitch) then it fits in with what we do to the football side in a major tournament year, namely just carry on as normal and let them (and us) suck it up when the inevitable happens.”
39th over: Bangladesh 197-5 (Mahmudullah 10, Mosaddek 9) DROP! And it’s a dolly. Ravi Ashwin, who moves as easily in the deep as a filing cabinet, shells a simply chance. He can’t quite make up the ground, diving the rest of the day, and only succeeds in palming the ball away for four.
38th over: Bangladesh 191-5 (Mahmudullah 4, Mosaddek 9) Good return frm Ashwin, who replaces Jadhav. He’s not been at his best this innings but concedes just three runs.
If u take the 'big 4' out of the Bangladesh line-up (and India almost have), the other 7 have scored 60 runs this tournament. Includes today
37th over: Bangladesh 188-5 (Mahmudullah 2, Mosaddek 8) Another good finish of a not great over for Bangladesh. Mosaddek the man again, backward point the region again. Plays it late, bit of flourish. Pleasing.
36th over: Bangladesh 183-5 (Mahmudullah 1, Mosaddek 4) Two wickets in two overs but a period ended by a handy four, wide of point, by the right-handed Mosaddek. The first shot in a while that hasn’t found a fielder.
A full toss and an advancing Mushfiqur works to midwicket where Virat Kohli is working. Outstanding awareness from Kohli, who took a few skips to his left to ensure he was right behind that catch.
35th over: Bangladesh 179-4 (Mushfiqur 61, Mahmadullah 1) Right off the toe of the bat for Shakib’s caught behind, which indicates just how quick Jadeja is bowling: the left-hander was almost through with the shot by the time it passed him. Mahmadullah the next man in.
It brought him four the over before, but this time Shakib’s attempt to cut finds the expecting gloves of MS Dhoni.
34th over: Bangladesh 177-3 (Mushfiqur 60, Shakib 15) Jadhav another rabid over burgler. Somehow sneaks out of a six-ball over in just over a minute. The rascal.
33rd over: Bangladesh 175-3 (Mushfiqur 59, Shakib 14) Shakib with the timing! Short from Jadeja – and still quick – allows the left-hander to beat backward point with force for his first boundary.
32nd over: Bangladesh 167-3 (Mushfiqur 57, Shakib 8) India starting to get the bit between their teeth. Jadeja stops four with a good run and dive at backward point. Then, Virat Kohli at cover nearly affects a run out with a smart pick-up and throw. Luckily, Mushfiqur is sent back immediately after setting off and makes his ground comfortably.
31st over: Bangladesh 164-3 (Mushfiqur 56, Shakib 6) Jadeja clearly going for quicker deliveries here. Sharper than your club’s opening bowler for most of the over which means he’s harder to get away square on the leg side. Three from the over.
30th over: Bangladesh 161-3 (Mushfiqur 55, Shakib 4) So 20-overs to go, Mushfiqur solid, Shakib starting and Kohli plotting.
Dust ourselves off and come back better
29th over: Bangladesh 156-3 (Mushfiqur 53, Shakib 1) Chance for India to squeeze the new batsman, even if he is the vastly experienced Shakib Al Hasan. Hit a brilliant hundred in pursuit against New Zealand. Off the mark with nip and tuck to square leg.
28th over: Bangladesh154-3 (Mushfiqur 52) At the start of this over, Mahendra Killedar emailed in looking for further advice: “To All Cricket Experts who contributed so far this morning... Please suggest a strategy to get remaining Bangladesh wickets!!!” Don’t worry, MK – Kedar’s got you covered.
Quality off-tweak from Kedar Jadhav and Tamim departs. A few dots got him tense and going hard at the ball. Jadhav uses his smarts to hold the final ball back. Tamim’s so early on the sweep, he might have had a chance if came back around and completed the full 360. An excellent innings comes to an end.
27th over: Bangladesh 152-2 (Iqbal 70, Mushfiqur 51) It comes off a thick outside edge, but otherwise it has been an excellent half-century from Mushfiqur. He’s played a fine hand in this partnership.
Who’s more nervous? Indian fans or Bangladeshi fans?
Anxiety increases when you’re in positions you didn’t think you’d be in.
26th over: Bangladesh 148-2 (Tamim 69, Mushfiqur 49) Still no boundary but still runs taken. We’ve had 25 runs ran in the last five overs.
Richard Willmsen, who got this thread started, says thanks to you all. He adds:“I’m finding Google Translate quite helpful for some of the advice but in terms of the action, would it be possible to write every third or fourth line ‘SO NOW BANGLADESH/INDIA ARE WINNING’?” Right now, Bangladesh are winning. But that could change in the very next over, or even after 26 overs of the India innings, if they are, say, 200 for one, thus rubbishing Bangladesh’s progress at this point. Yeah, I know.
25th over: Bangladesh 142-2 (Tamim 66, Mushfiqur 46) The average first innings score here is 277, which Bangladesh should beat with ease.
Peter Salmon emails in with some proper words: “Call me old fashioned, but nothing gets a newcomer more excited about the game than a couple of hours spent demonstrating the correct way to play a forward defensive. Soft bottom hand, high elbow, foot to the pitch of a ball placed about a metre in front of them, no following through. Repeat. That’s how you get the kids excited about cricket.”
24th over: Bangladesh 137-2 (Tamim 65, Mushfiqur 42) Another good no-boundary over. Something of each ball – seven again from it.
Here's a sight you thought you'd never see!
More to follow...#BANvIND#CT17pic.twitter.com/b5aQ3xsRfU
23rd over: Bangladesh 130-2 (Tamim 63, Mushfiqur 36) This over is arguably just as good. Jadeja can be hard to score off yet Tamim and Mushfiqur manage seven without needing to reach the ropes.
“Seems like an appropriate time to ask for a shoutout for our 4th team captain, Aaron Saunders,” writes Matthew Bull. “Doesn’t know the fielding position but instead vaguely points to an area and says ‘go there please’.” At least he’s polite.
22nd over: Bangladesh 123-2 (Tamim 62, Mushfiqur 31) Absolutely outstanding from Tamim. Three smart shots – laced through point, over the top of cover, nudge off the pads – bring consecutive boundaries at the end of the over. That’s one way of slowing Ashwin down...
21st over: Bangladesh 110-2 (Tamim 50, Mushfiqur 30) A break in the over to review a stumping chance. Sharp work from Dhoni and good turn from Jadeja, but Mushfiqur has enough of his size 6 behind the line. He started the over with a tidy reverse for four. They’re beginning to enjoy this, are Mush and Tam.
“Get the laid back friend to explain the basics, not the enthusiastic friend.” Another good point – this one from Alice Arcury-Quandt. There’s nothing worse than being informed about the game by someone who’s just too into it...
20th over: Bangladesh 105-2 (Tamim 50, Mushfiqur 25) Trial by spin as Ravi Ashwin speeds through an over for just one run. Smart, to be fair. Rush through a few and, suddenly, you’ve burned through overs for not very many.
Chris Drew: “Best piece of advice for cricket neophytes - don’t forget the corkscrew.”
19th over: Bangladesh 104-2 (Tamim 50, Mushfiqur 24) New one for me: Ravi Jadeja’s introduction features entrance music: “Ooooo Ravi Jadeja” sing the India fans as the White Stripes blare through the PA system. The final delivery nearly brings a wicket... Tamim reverse sweeps loosely over third man and gets the four to take him to his half-century from 62 balls.
“I have a comedy tea towel with all the positions illustrated literally,” writes Ian Copestake. “Deep mid on is in a hole with only his hand showing above ground, while short extra cover is a small man carrying three umbrellas, and so on. I now feel I know the positions but when I play I do get a lot of abuse for carrying umbrellas onto the pitch.”
18th over: Bangladesh 96-2 (Tamim 43, Mushfiqur 23) Good work from these two: six runs off the over – no boundary – and their partnership moves to 30. They’ve been going at over five a over.
Good morning to Matt Ayre: “Surely part of the joy of understanding cricket is being able to get into an ontological argument about whether someone’s a backward point or a deep gully?” Or sixth slip.
17th over: Bangladesh 90-2 (Tamim 41, Mushfiqur 19) If Bangladesh fans had a Tamim chant to the tune of Jolene, they’d belting it out right about now. Pandya tries to go for his legs to cramp him for room. No good – Tamim uses his newly freed wrists to clatter the ball over midwicket for the first six of the match!
16th over: Bangladesh 80-2 (Tamim 33, Mushfiqur 17) Tamim, arms loose, mind at ease, spots a flatter delivery from Ashwin and uses his bat as a pinball bumper to deflect it fine for four to third man.
“Speak in between deliveries,” yes, excellent point, Simon Towers. “Newcomers can be spotted easily as their stories will be interrupted by ‘shottttt!’, or similar. Seasoned cricketers will pause without even thinking about it.
15th over: Bangladesh 71-2 (Tamim 26, Mushfiqur 15) Better from Pandya. Something of his front foot behind the line and just four conceded. Tries to catch Tamim charging but gives away a wide. Nothing wrong with that.
Good morning to Kat Petersen, once a cricket newbie – weren’t we all – but now she sees: “The first thing I needed explaining to me was that just because everyone wears white it doesn’t mean they are all on the same team.”
14th over: Bangladesh 67-2 (Tamim 24, Mushfiqur 14) Comfortable four runs from that over. Ashwin struggling not to push deliveries to Tamim down the leg side. Hasn’t quite hit his straps yet.
don't worry about understanding all of it. I've met fans who have been fans for ages who still don't know all the field positions.
13th over: Bangladesh 64-2 (Tamim 22, Mushfiqur 12) NO BALLS! WE’VE GOT NO BALLS! AND WE’VE GOT A WICKET OFF ONE OF THOSE NO BALLS!!! Oh Hardik Pandya, what on earth have you done? His first no ball does limited damage as the free hit is caught at deep point, allowing a couple of runs. However the second means that Tamim survives after playing onto his own stumps. Unbelievable scenes. This time the free hit, which eventually comes after a wide full toss, is clouted down the ground for four. Is that the reprieve that’ll free Tamim up?
12th over: Bangladesh 49-2 (Tamim 12, Mushfiqur 12) Ravi Ashwin on to tie some knots. Around the wicket to the leftie – Tamim guides a single to third man – and over to the right-handed Mushfiqur. No width to speak of.
Phil Russell’s advice is thus: “Don’t stand in front of the sightscreen because you’ll distract the batsman. Also all the players will then shout at you to move and this will make you cross because you didn’t know it was a problem and you don’t even like cricket anyway and you only came to this stupid game because your stupid partner plays it and then you will drive off leaving your now ex-partner stranded.” I once got shouted at by Graeme Smith for walking in front of a sightscreen during a four-day match at the Oval wearing a hoodie that could be described as “Dukes red”. He retired soon after that and I’ve still got the hoodie. So... yeah. Take that, Graeme.
11th over: Bangladesh 47-2 (Tamim 11, Mushfiqur 12) Kumar continues post-Power Play and concedes just one.
“Don’t try to understand it all at once,” starts Richard O’Hagan. I’m inclined to agree. “There are people who have followed the game for years who don’t understand it all. This is particularly good advice for Americans, who are quite happy to follow their own brand of football, a sport with so many rules that the rule book is thicker than a 1980s telephone directory. Tell them that you’ll explain the back foot no ball rule if they can tell you when a player is and isn’t on the line of scrimmage.” Ah, American Football, with your 50 players-a-side and 14 match officials...
10th over: Bangladesh 46-2 (Tamim 10, Mushfiqur 12) Finally, Tamim’s into double figures. Solid first 10 from Bangladesh, albeit with one more wicket lose than they’d have liked.
“First piece of advice to a newcomer is a dual one,” writes Bob Miller. “Why the bowlers keep rubbing the ball on their trousers (ED: the like the feel) coupled with why this means that the batters don’t just try and smash every ball out of the ground (ED: They think it’s icky). Or alternatively why everywhere we go, the people want to know, who we are etc etc…”
9th over: Bangladesh 45-2 (Tamim 9, Mishfiqur 12) Three fours off the boundary, each improving in quality, all three greeted with some Katy Perry. Mushfiqur’s first is, objectively, awful: charging and nearly ruining his own leg stump via an under edge. The next, an upright extra cover drive. The third guided classily between point and cover. Meanwhile, Tamim is stuck...
8th over: Bangladesh 32-2 (Tamim 8, Mushfiqur 0) Tamim breaks the sequence of dot balls with a very English dab to third man for a single.
7th over: Bangladesh 31-2 (Tamim 7, Sabbir 19) A wicket maiden. An over of calm puncutred by the carnage of Sabbir’s wicket. Richard Willmsen joins us for what I gather is his first cricket match. Kudos to a Bangladeshi shopkeeper in Rome for piquing his interest Read more about his journey here. Welcome to our delightful sport, Richard.
Let’s open this to the floor: if you could give a piece of advice to someone new to the game of cricket, what would it be? Mine for your early travails: never ask “who is winning?” Because no one ever knows, regardless of what Cricviz, WASP or those bits of mouldy seaweed say.
Thirteen (13!) dot balls in a row and, twitchy, Rahman throws too much too early at a wider slower delivery, giving Ravi Jadeja at backward point a simple catch.
5th over: Bangladesh 31-1 (Tamim 7, Sabbir 19)“India vs Pakistan final sounds exciting,” writes Mahendar Killedar. “But India has to get past Bangladesh first.” Absolutely. It’s why we’re here. “What odds did Pakistan beat before beating England?And how many of us anticipated Bangladesh to reach thus far at the beginning of Championship Trophy? So don’t under estimate them. Stay sober.” Sober as a cloud, Mahendar – stated in my opening entry that this would be tough for India. Proving to be the case after that first breakthrough. Tamim skews an outside edge beyond the dive of slip for four more. Ball coming very nicely onto the bat
4th over: Bangladesh 26-1 (Tamim 6, Sabbir 19) Sabbir again. Get around this kid! Piercing boy band eyes yet wields the axe like a rock god. Skip and step to Bumrah gets another four over the top of the covers.
3rd over: Bangladesh 21-1 (Tamim 6, Sabbir 15) Bangladesh’s issue in the group stages was that, Tamim aside, their top order was paper-thin. Sabbir’s positive approach – he charges Kumar and clouts him over extra cover, then threads a glorious orthodox punch squarer – looks as good a tactic as any. Let Tamim get on with his business at the other end and don’t get him worrying about shaking hands with a new batsman every five overs...
2nd over: Bangladesh 11-1 (Tamim 6, Sabbir 5) Jasprit Bumrah, the one-finned dolphin swimming in circles in open water, takes the fresh ball from the other end. Quicker off the pitch from Kumar, Tamim tickles around the corner, beating fine leg for four. Sabbir Raham takes advantage of that extra nip too, thumping his first ball through cover point for four. Bumrah gives them both something to think about before the over’s out: beating Sabbir over middle stump then Tamim on the outside edge.
1st over: Bangladesh 1-1 (Tamim 1) Hasn’t quite happened for Soumya Sarkar this tournament (he’s not alone in this Bangladesh side, mind). While Tamim knocks to square leg for one, Soumya snatches at his second ball. No real need given conditions.
Having left his first ball, which just passed his off stump, a wider delivery is dragged on by the left-handed Soumya. Graeme Smith on commentary says it could be nerves. Whatever the reasoning behind the shot, it was poor.
The covers are off and, more importantly, we have cricketers. More than 22 of them, in fact, as both squads make their way out to the pitch for the national anthems. Pleasing amount of tabla in Bangladesh’s. Fresh pitch for today’s match, by the way. India huddle up as Yuvraj bops to Seven Nation Army. Can’t quite make out the message coming from his eyes, but presumably it’s “send Bangladesh home”. Groovy Kumar to get us underway with the ball.
Me and my big mouth. Further delays to play, though not for long:
Covers off. Not raining at the moment. Game to get underway at 10.40am local time. In 11 minutes. #INDvBAN#CT17
Yuvraj Singh, the only man the game has seen with a better back-lift than Brian Charles Lara, brings up 300 ODI matches today. We’ve seen the clip of him panging Broad for six of the best. We get it – wrist for days, timing for weeks, class for years.
Instead, here he is getting down at his own wedding with a catastrophically underdressed Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli has won the toss and has decided that India will chase whatever Bangladesh can muster. Both sides are unchanged. Virat Kohli’s cool, Mashrafe Mortaza’s champing. We’re starting on time (10:30 BST), too. Rob Key reckons 320 is needed up first...
BANGLADESH: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim†, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza*, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
*Does the Hasan Ali thump-the-earth-rip-the-shirt-open celebration*
Good news.
Covers coming off and toss is about to happen #BANvINDpic.twitter.com/NxppVntq9F
Facasinating nugget, this: Since the 2015 World Cup, Bangladesh have a better ODI record against the top-eight sides than India. Both have 11 wins, but Bangladesh have only lost 10 compared to India’s 13.
Good weather first. Replying from New Delhi. Hope Bangladesh don't shock us today. 2 Billion people want #IndvsPak on Sunday:p
Vish here, live and direct, for all your Thursday over-by-over needs. One of those Thursdays where it feels like a weekend, though I imagine a lot of you reading this from the UK of an English persuasion might be sullen-faced in the baking sun.
To think, just a year ago some of us were wondering how a financial juggernaut could be stopped by a country who, up to that point, had only inconvenienced our holiday plans with an ill-timed volcanic eruption. But, just as we have learned to accept out new Icelandic overlords – Góðan daginn, leiðtogar! – we now also bow to Pakistan. With relish.
Vish will be here shortly. In the meantime, here is Ali Martin’s pre-match despatch from Edgbaston. Skippers Virat Kohli and Mashrafe Mortaza were both impressive – as was Ali, let’s be fair – at the press conferences:
Virat Kohli spoke with glowing respect about India’s opponents on Thursday, stating there can be no guarantees against Bangladesh these days given their rise to No6 in the one-day world rankings and their toppling of New Zealand last week.
Kohli’s defending champions are overwhelming favourites on a fresh pitch at Edgbaston but this has been a tournament of upsets so far, none more so than when Mashrafe Mortaza’s side chased down 266 at Sophia Gardens last Friday, which ultimately booked their semi-final place.
Related: India’s Virat Kohli will take nothing for granted against Bangladesh
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