Just as some things don’t change, so is the case with Bangladesh’s fortunes against top-tier teams. Particularly, when they face India. Once again in a World Cup game, India’s neighbours had given them a scare.

But when it came to seizing the key moments, India played better cricket and eventually prevailed over Bangladesh in the rain-affected game by five runs (D/L method) at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday.

With six points after four matches, India are now back on top of Group 2 and a step closer to the semi-finals of the ongoing T20 World Cup. India’s performer of the day was Virat Kohli (64 not out off 44 balls) again. After a blip against South Africa last Sunday, the premier batter didn’t take much time to get into his groove and propel India to a formidable total of 184 for 6 after being put in to bat.

KL Rahul, too, found form with his 32-ball 50 that set the tempo for India after yet another early dismissal of skipper Rohit Sharma. In reply, opener Litton Das (60 off 27 balls) played a gem of a knock till rain forced the players off the ground. Bangladesh were going along quite well then at 66 without loss after seven overs.

That rain delay did come as a blessing for India. The interruption affected Bangladesh’s flow and rhythm, while it allowed India to regroup at a time they looked quite deflated owing to Litton’s superb exhibition of strokeplay.

As per the revised target (151 off 16 overs), Bangladesh were left to get 85 more off nine overs. With the outfield being slippery and bowlers finding it a tad difficult to grip the ball, the task wasn’t easy for India. But India’s quicks focused on pitching the ball short. The likes of Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya tried to hit the area just short of the goodlength spot. It seemed good enough to rattle the Bangladesh batsmen, who just don’t seem to have the wherewithal to tackle well-directed shortpitched stuff.

Once Rahul gave India the breakthrough with a direct hit to run the dangerous-looking Litton out soon after the resumption, Arshdeep (2/38) and Hardik (2/28) ensured the game kept getting out of Bangladesh’s reach as they were soon reduced to 145 for 6. Anchor’s role The dismissals of both Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav (30 off 16 balls) off Bangladesh captain Shakib-al Hasan’s bowling came against the run of play.

All-rounder Hardik also didn’t last long, and Bangladesh were sneaking their way back into the contest. India, though, didn’t have reasons to panic as long as their former skipper was out there in the middle. Just as he had done against Pakistan and The Netherlands, Kohli anchored the innings and then when it mattered, pressed on the accelerator with the help of some gorgeous strokes. The one that stood out was the straight drive over mid-on off Hasan Mahmud in the last ball of the 19th over which deservedly fetched him a six.

What also seems to bode well for Kohli in this World Cup is that he’s back to committing very few unforced errors. On Wednesday, one attempted off-drive that went over slip for a four early in his innings off Taskin’s bowling and an inside edge off Mustafizur Rahman were the only two false shots he had played. Importantly, he’s not looking to be too adventurous early on just for the sake of showing intent.

Taskin was making fair use of the conditions early on, and Kohli made sure to give the pacer his due respect as he looked to settle down. A bit of support for Taskin from the other end was something Bangladesh missed dearly as Kohli made the most of it.

TALKING POINT

‘Fake’ fielding

Bangladesh’s Nurul Hasan said at a post-match interaction that Virat Kohli had simulated a throw during the seventh over of the chase for which India should have been penalised five runs as per the law. Law 41.5 states that a fielder can’t wilfully attempt to distract, deceive or obstruct either batsmen after the striker has received the ball.

Timely showers

At 66 without loss after seven overs, Bangladesh were well placed with Litton Das on 59 off 26 balls. Just then the rain held up play, giving India that extra bit of time to regroup.

KL fires

KL Rahul was expected to fire on Wednesday as the Bangladesh pace attack is not strong enough. Rahul was only too happy to cash in on freebies offered on the field, scoring a much-needed 50 that set the tone for India. Later, he effected a superb direct hit from the deep that ran Litton out. Bangladesh just couldn’t recover from that blow.

Double strikes

Mathematically, Bangladesh were in the game till the final ball off which they needed seven to win. Their hopes though were practically over when Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya struck twice each in back-to-back overs. Arshdeep picked up Afif Hossain and Shakib-al Hasan in the 12th over, and Pandya removed Yasir Ali and Mosaddek Hossain in the next.

Surya best T20I batter

India’s Suryakumar Yadav overtook Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan on Wednesday to become the world’s No.1 T20I batter.

The swashbuckling batter has gone to the top of the rankings on the back of his incredible form in recent times, including an unbeaten 51 off 25 balls against the Netherlands in Sydney last week.

He is just the second Indian player to hold the top T20I batter spot after Virat Kohli, who spent 1,013 days at the top in different periods from September 2014 to December 2017. Yadav’s tally of 863 rating points is also the second-best by an Indian, the highest being Kohli’s tally of 897 in September 2014.

Pakistan’s Rizwan and New Zealand’s Devon Conway complete the top 3 positions. Among the bowlers, Rashid Khan is ranked No.1 with Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga advancing four places to the No.2 slot.