India levelled the 3 match series against Bangladesh with an 8-wicket win in the 2nd T20I in Rajkot on Thursday.
Stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and put Bangladesh in to bat. The visitors made the most of the powerplay, amassing 54 runs without losing a wicket. The Indian bowlers were unable to contain openers Liton Das and Mohammad Naim, until Das was run out in the eight over for 29 off 21 balls.
Naim went soon after, dismissed by Washington Sundar for 36 off 31 balls.
Mushfiqur Rahim didn’t contribute much, out for 4 runs leaving Bangladesh at 97/3 in the thirteenth over.
Soumya Sarkar scored a quickfire 30 off 20 balls before his innings was halted by Yuzvendra Chahal. Another quick 30 off 21 balls by Mahmadullah meant that despite the other Bangladesh batsmen failing, the visitors were able to reach 153/6 in their 20 overs.
Khaleel Ahmed was India’s most expensive bowler – is four overs going for 44 runs. Chahal finished with 2/28 in his four.
India’s chase began brightly and they never really faltered in their innings. Playing his 100th T20I, Rohit Sharma, who is in tremendous form coming off three centuries in three Tests against South Africa, carried the momentum into this game as well.
A smashing 43-ball 85 by the skipper, ably assisted by Shikhar Dhawan’s 31 off 27 balls, meant that India stayed in control throughout their innings. This was Rohit’s third-quickest T20 innings of 50 or more.
Dhawan was the first Indian wicket to fall, bowled by Aminul Islam – India at 118/1.
Rohit’s charge was eventually also halted by Islam, but by then India were just a handful of runs away from victory.
Shreyas Iyer (24* off 13 balls) and KL Rahul (8* off 11 balls) took India home – an 8-wicket win with 26 balls to spare.
India’s victory makes the third T20I in Nagpur on November 10 the series decider.
