India captain Virat Kohli on Tuesday hailed Rohit Sharma as the “best one-day player around” after the opener’s fourth century of the tournament saw the side book their place in the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup with a 28-run win over Bangladesh at Edgbaston.
Sharma’s attacking 104 laid the foundation of India’s 314-9 after Kohli elected to bat first in India’s penultimate match of the league phase.
Yet, for the second match in a row Sharma was dropped in single figures before making a hundred, as happened during India’s 31-run defeat by England at Edgbaston on Sunday.
India’s bowlers then combined to dismiss Bangladesh for 286 with two overs to spare after star batsman Shakib Al Hasan top-scored with a valiant 66.
Jasprit Bumrah took four wickets and fellow paceman Hardik Pandya three, including the prize scalp of Shakib.
Kohli might be widely regarded as the best current batsman in all forms of the game, but the skipper was unstinting in his praise of Sharma.
“In my opinion he is the best one-day player around, he is having the tournament of his life and when he plays well everyone has so much confidence,” Kohli said. “When he plays well we know we are heading for a big score. He gives everyone confidence to go out and bat.”
“Bangladesh played some really good cricket and deserve credit for the fight they put up. We had to work hard for the win and we are happy to see a ‘Q’ [qualified] in front of our name now,” he added.
Defeat ended Bangladesh’s slim hopes of a place in the last four after they had impressed in wins over South Africa and the West Indies.
“It was a good effort — Mustafizur bowled well,” Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said. “But if one of the batsmen could have got to 80 or 90, it might have been different. We were asking too much in the end.”
The day belonged to Sharma, whose attacking 92-ball innings, featuring seven fours and five sixes, was cheered on by another largely pro-India crowd in Birmingham.
Sharma and opening partner K.L. Rahul put on 180 — the highest stand for the first wicket in the tournament — to get India off to a flying start.
However, Sharma should have been out for 9, only for Tamim Iqbal to drop a simple catch at deep midwicket following a mistimed pull off paceman Mustafizur Rahman.
Sharma was finally was caught at extra cover by Liton Das off the bowling of Soumya Sarkar and Rahul, who filled an opener’s slot following an injury to Shikhar Dhawan, was caught behind off Rubel Hossain for 77.
Mustafizur took five wickets, including that of star batsman Kohli for 26, to check India’s surge.
Rishabh Pant once again showed his worth at the No. 4 position with a brisk 48, using the short boundary at one side of Edgbaston to his advantage.
M.S. Dhoni, who received flak for his slow innings in India’s defeat by England on Sunday — their only loss so far this tournament — chipped in with a 33-ball 35.
Paceman Mohammed Shami struck early in Bangladesh’s reply when Tamim, who made 22, chopped the ball onto his stumps.
Shakib hit his sixth 50-plus score that includes two centuries to keep Bangladesh in hunt.
However, Pandya’s second spell saw the all-rounder account for Liton and Shakib to leave Bangladesh struggling at 179-6 in the 34th over.
Shakib played well for his 46th one-day international half-century, but was undone by a slower ball and caught at extra-cover.
Mohammad Saifuddin made an unbeaten 51 only to run out of partners as Bumrah ended the match with wickets in successive deliveries.
Bangladesh face Pakistan in their final group match at Lord’s tomorrow. India meet Sri Lanka on the final day of the round-robin phase on Saturday.
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