Asian Games | Tilak Varma's Blistering Fifty Helps India Thrash Bangladesh In Semi-Final
Tilak Varma scored his second T20I fifty [X.com]
India made lightwork of Bangladesh in the Asian Games T20 semi-final 1, notching up a thumping nine-wicket victory, and booked a place in the final for the coveted gold medal match.
Indian spinners tame Bangladesh batters
With India playing the lone pacer in Arshdeep Singh, all-rounder Shivam Dube shared the new ball against Bangladesh.
A subdued start from Bangladesh meant India employed the spinners as early as the third over, which provided instant results. Sai Kishore got the crucial wicket of Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who has been in good form lately.
Washington Sundar followed Kishore and claimed the wicket of Saif Hassan in his second over, pinning Bangladesh down.
Ruturaj Gaikwad brought on Tilak Varma ahead of Ravi Bishnoi and Shahbaz Ahmed and claimed his second T20I wicket in the form of Parvez Hossain Emon, who provided some resistance for his side making 23 off 32.
With constant pressure mounting on Bangladesh batters, Zahir Hasan tried to up the ante and perished, handing Sundar his second wicket.
Kishore, meanwhile, kept on applying pressure on the other end and managed to claim the wickets of hard-hitting batter Afif Hossain and Shahadat Hossain in quick succession.
Bishnoi added a wicket to his tally, getting Mrittunjoy Chowdhury for 2. Rakibul Hasan provided entertainment, scoring a quick-fire 14 off 6, but soon fell to Ahmed.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali kept the scoreboard ticking, scoring a valiant 24* off 29 as Bangladesh finished their innings on 96 for 9.
Ruturaj Gaikwad-Tilak Varma Make Merry
Chasing 97, centurian from the quarterfinal, Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a duck, giving away his wicket in the first over against Ripon Mondol.
Skipper Gaikwad and Tilak Varma took hold of the proceedings and launched an attack on Bangladesh spinners. The duo added 50 runs in just 18 balls, taking milking bowlers with certain ease on a tough wicket.
Varma, in particular, displayed his class, employing all kinds of sweep against spinners. The 20-year-old registered his second T20I fifty in 25 balls, which came off a massive six.
Both Gaikwad and Varma remained unbeaten on 40 and 55, respectively as India brought their win in the 9th over itself, reaching the target of 97.
Brief Scores
Bangladesh: 96/9 (20)
Jaker Ali 24, Parvez Hossain Emon 23;
Sai Kishore 3/12, Washington Sundar 2/15
India: 97/1 (9.2)
Tilak Varma 55* (26), Ruturaj Gaikwad 40* (26);
Ripon Mondol 1/26
India won by nine wickets.
 "Vishal Mehra")
