India pips a fighting Bangladesh in tense contestfinish, inches closer to a semifinal spot 

Litton’s 27-ball 60 goes in vain as the Tigers fall short by five runs in a rain-affected match; Rahul finds his feet finally while Kohli continues to shine; Men in Blue defend a total of 184, thanks to Arshdeep who bowls a match-swinging over and keeps his nerve at the death

A Wednesday night of whimsical skies and moist interludes threw up a close game. The kind that had the players walking the razor’s edge. In the end India prevailed over a fighting Bangladesh in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup Super 12 Group 2 match here at the Adelaide Oval. The Men in Blue won by five runs after a rain-break reduced Bangladesh’s target to 151 from 16 overs while originally India had posted 184 for six.

Pursuing a stiff total, Bangladesh set a breathless pace with Litton Das playing the lead act. The opener played a blinder, finding his early appetisers from Arshdeep Singh, the fours coming with rapidity. Bhuvneshwar Kumar wasn’t spared too. There was a sliver of luck for Litton on 27, as his edge eluded a diving Dinesh Karthik.

It got worse for Bhuvneshwar as the batter scooped a six and Mohammed Shami was whipped too with another six ushering in Litton’s rapid fifty. In all this time, his fellow-opener Najmul Hossain Shanto remained a mere observer. As Shami steamed in, Litton unleashed an inside-out lofted drive. The rains then slithered in and Bangladesh at 66 for no loss in seven overs was ahead by 17 runs on the DLS Method.

When the showers paused and the game restarted at 9.50 p.m. (local time), Bangladesh needed 85 from nine overs.

There was a shift in momentum as Shanto sought a two off R. Ashwin and a flailing Litton (60) failed to beat K.L. Rahul’s throw from the deep and the tide began to change.

Shanto and captain Shakib Al Hasan played some rousing strokes but they and the rest attempted to soar past the fence and that resulted in a flurry of catches.

It boiled down to 20 from the last over and despite Nurul Hasan pulling a six, Arshdeep kept his head and Bangladesh finished with 145 for six