Defending champions India crushed Bangladeshi minnows World Cup dreams with a crushing 109-run win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to roar into the semi-finals earlier today.
The two-time champions stretched their unbeaten tournament run to seven wins and will now face either co-hosts Australia or Pakistan in Sydney on March 26 in the semi final.
Opener Rohit Sharma top-scored with 137 off 126 balls and Suresh Raina hit a rapid-fire 65 from 57 balls to rescue India from early trouble in a 122-run stand that left Bangladesh facing a challenging target of 303.
The Indians, who were struggling at 115 for three, shrugged off the early wicket loses to reach 302 for six after winning the toss on a flat pitch and soon had the helpless Bangladesh struggling under lights in front of 51,552 fans.
No side has made more than 300 batting second to win a one-day international at the MCG.
Rohit blasted his seventh ODI century and had a big break on 90 when he holed out to deep mid-wicket off Rubel Hossain, only for umpire Ian Gould to signal a no-ball for what appeared to be a legitimate waist-high delivery.
“I’m glad we eventually posted a good total,” said Rohit. “It was important for me to stay as long as I could as we lost a couple of wickets in the middle.”
Rohit was finally bowled by a Taskin Ahmed yorker in the 47th over, finishing with 14 fours and three sixes.
Bangladesh, playing in their first World Cup quarter-final, started well in the field before Raina followed up his unbeaten 110 in India’s six-wicket win over Zimbabwe in their concluding pool game last weekend with another free-scoring knock.
Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan dawdled through the opening hour’s play before BD all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan struck with his third ball to have Dhawan stumped for 30 off 50 balls.
Key batsman Virat Kohli lasted only eight balls before he needlessly flashed at a wide Rubel delivery and was caught behind for three.
India had another setback when Ajinkya Rahane lofted a drive to Shakib at mid-off on the edge of the circle for 19 off Taskin, leaving the favourites struggling at 115 for three in the 28th over.
But Raina and Rohit upped the tempo and Bangladesh’s fielding became ragged under pressure before Raina skied Mashrafe Mortaza to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was out for just six to give Taskin his third wicket but Ravindra Jadeja’s 23 not out off 10 balls helped see India past 300.
Bangladesh lost both openers in the space of two balls in the seventh over, one in a dreadful mix-up that led to a run out at the non-striker’s end.
BD’s wickets kept falling wiht near monotanous regularity and the chase seemed all but over within 20 overs.
Nasir Hossain top scored with 35 off 34 balls down the order and Yadav finished with four for 31.
