Nidahas Trophy 2018: Bowlers, Shikhar Dhawan guide India to win

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Colombo, March 8: India needed to win this game against Bangladesh after their defeat against Sri Lanka in the opening game of the Nidahas Trophy T20I tri-series. And they did precisely that riding on an uber cool knock by Shikhar Dhawan to register a six-wicket victory.

Dhawan made his second fifty of the tournament as India surmounted Bangladesh below par 139 for eight without much ado at the R Premadasa stadium on Thursday (March 8).

SCOREBOARD

Dhawan's knock (55, 43b, 5x4, 2x6) was not as punitive as the 90 he made against Sri Lanka on Tuesday (March 6) but no less significant as it guided India to a smooth win over Bangladesh.

When India were reduced to 40 for two in 5.1 overs after Bangladesh managed to price out skipper Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant, who came in at No 3 in place of Suresh Raina, Dhawan instilled a drop of safety adding 68 runs for the third wicket with fellow southpaw Raina.

It was not an alliance of bravado but of prudence as India glided towards a win. Bangladesh bowlers kept a good line often and did not allow the Indians to cut loose but the paltry nature of the target - 140 - allowed them to bat without the pressure of mounting run rate.

For that, India will have to thank their bowlers.

India bowlers never allowed any space for Bangladesh batsmen as the Rohit Sharma-side gained a definite upper hand at half-way stage in the second T20I of the Nidahas Trophy.

Opting to bowl first, India restricted Bangladesh to a well below par 139 for eight in 20 overs.

There was not much offer in terms of swing or spin for the India bowlers from the 22-yard trampoline but they mixed their pace and line beautifully as Bangladesh batsmen struggled to get a move on.

Liton Das (34) and Sabbir Rahman tried to force pace at various stages of the Bangladesh innings but they did not have much leeway against a set of spot on Indian bowlers.

The black spots on an otherwise impeccable Indian effort with the ball was the clumsy effort on the field. There were as many as four dropped catches - in fact two in a row in a Vijay Shankar over - and some missed attempts while gathering the ball on the field.

But they did not cost India dear on this night as batsmen complemented bowlers splendidly for a fine win. It also kept India's excellent record against Bangladesh in T20Is - 6-0.