Champions Trophy: Bangladesh thrashed, brace for the epic India-Pak showdown
India beat Bangladesh comprehensively by nine wickets with a full ten overs to spare at Edgbaston to set a final showdown on June 18 with arch-rivals Pakistan. At the end of the day, the sem-final against Bangladesh proved to be a walk in the park for the Men in Blue.
Virat Kohli's men were clinical on all fronts, be it batting, bowling or fielding. The Indian team restricted Bangldesh to 264/7 in their 50 overs on the back of an all-round bowling performance, with two wickets apiece for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Kedhar Jadhav.
When it came to the run chase, on the big day the famed Indian batting line-up didn't disappoint and made short work of Bangldesh's bowling attack. Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma made an aggresive yet composed start with Rohit going on to score an unbeaten century, while Dhawan made 46 before giving away his wicket to Mashrafe Mortaza. In came skipper Virat Kohli and he scored a blistering unbeaten 96 of just 78 balls.
INDIA REACH THE #CT17 FINAL! A batting masterclass from @ImRo45 and @imVkohli seals a 9 wicket thrashing of Bangladesh! #BANvIND pic.twitter.com/dIRC97LI9e
— ICC (@ICC) June 15, 2017
KOHLI, KOHLI, KOHLI!Safe to say India fans enjoyed @imVkohli's 50!#BANvIND #CT17 pic.twitter.com/lIhheYSd5l
— ICC (@ICC) June 15, 2017
Rohit Sharma was declared the player of the match and he said, "It was a great knock, especially when it comes on a winning note. I've been trying to get a big one, in the last two games, so I was quite determined today. We've been playing good cricket. One last hurdle, a big game against Pakistan. It felt like he (Kohli) was batting overnight - as a captain, he was brilliant."
Player of the Match is... no surprises... @ImRo45! Congratulations! #BANvIND #CT17 pic.twitter.com/ss1kYn6NFY
— ICC (@ICC) June 15, 2017
It was a comfortable victory for Team India and Bangladesh, when it mattered, came up way short. All this means one thing now, with the perfectly written script: an India-Pakistan epic finale for the ICC champions Trophy on June 18 (a Sunday at that) at the Kennington Oval, London. Will it be the same result as the opening match when India dispatched a lacklustre looking Pakistan side. Or, will Pakistan get their revenge?
Social media was abuzz with India's dominationg victory, and even more excited at the thought of the grand India vs Pakistan finale. Here are a few reactions:
So 10 years after the T20 World Cup , it's going to be an India - Pakistan final in an ICC event . Come on India !!!#CT17
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 15, 2017
Outstanding, India too strong! Sets up an exciting final... #CT17 #IndVsPak #CTFinal #india #Pakistan
— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) June 15, 2017
We are simply the best cricket team in the world. Period. #INDvBAN
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) June 15, 2017Sunday, June 183pm: India vs Pakistan, Oval, London #cricket6.30pm: India vs Pakistan, Olympic Park, London #hockey
— Mihir Vasavda (@mihirsv) June 15, 2017Looking forward to the #Mother of all battles- #IndvPak on #FathersDay June 18 - #SuperSunday. pic.twitter.com/A7VTJBzg4e
— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) June 15, 2017When you know it's India versus Pakistan on sunday!#INDvBAN#IndVsPakpic.twitter.com/QgRzByfupZ
— ANUPRIYA (@cricketwoman) June 15, 2017