India have successfully chased a modest target of 229 runs against Bangladesh courtesy of Shubman Gill’s ton to seal a six-wicket victory in their first match of the ICC Champions Trophy played at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.
India had a decent start to the pursuit as skipper Rohit Sharma and Gill laid solid foundation with a 69-run stand, which culminated with the former’s dismissal on the penultimate delivery of the batting powerplay.
Sharma scored 41 off 36 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries.
Gill was then involved in a 43-run partnership for the second wicket with Virat Kohli, who managed to score 22 off 38 deliveries.
India then lost two more wickets in quick succession and had consequently been reduced to 144/4 in 30.1 overs.
After back-to-back blows, wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul joined Gill in the middle and anchored the run chase.
The duo recorded an unbeaten 87-run partnership to steer over the line.
Rishad Hossain was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, picking up two wickets, while Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman made one scalp apiece.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s decision to bat first appeared to have backfired as Indian bowlers ran through their top order and reduced them to 35/5 in 8.3 overs.
Following the slump, Jaker joined Hridoy in the middle and the duo batted sensibly to launch recovery.
Jaker and Hridoy had brought Bangladesh into the hunt and were starting to take the attack back to the Indian bowlers by hitting boundaries at regular intervals.
Mohammed Shami eventually broke the threatening 151-run stand by getting rid of Jaker in the 43rd over.
Jaker scored 68 off 114 deliveries with the help of four boundaries.
His dismissal sparked a brief lower-order collapse, which saw Bangladesh losing two more wickets in quick succession, but Towhid Hridoy stood his ground firm despite battling through the cramps and scored a valiant century.
He remained the top-scorer for Bangladesh with 100 off 118 deliveries, comprised of six fours and two sixes.
Shami was the standout bowler for India, registering brilliant bowling figures of 5/53 in his 10 overs, followed by Harshit Rana with three wickets, while Axar Patel bagged two.
