Liton heroics in vain as India down Bangladesh in rain-curtailed encounter

Bangladesh were set to pull off the improbable after opener Liton Das took charge in chase of a 185-run target against India in the two team's crucial Super 12 clash of the T20 World Cup in Adelaide today. But despite a thrilling ending, Bangladesh lost the game by five runs via DLS.  

The equation even came down to 13 required off the final four deliveries after Taskin Ahmed hit Hardik Pandya for a boundary and six in the penultimate over before Nurul Hasan Sohan pulled Arsdeep Singh for a massive six in the second delivery of the final over. Sohan would go on to hit Arshdeep for a boundary in the fifth delivery with Bangladesh needing a six in the last ball to drag the game into super overs. 

However, that did not happen as Sohan managed only a single run in the final delivery as Bangladesh were restricted to 145 for six in a game that was reduced to 16 overs due to rain.  

Liton's onslaught placed the Tigers on the front foot, at 66 for naught in seven overs before rain interrupted proceedings. However, once play resumed with a revised target of 151 in 16 overs, wickets kept falling at regular intervals, starting with the unfortunate dismissal of Liton as the batter was run out for a 27-ball 60.

A direct hit from midwicket by KL Rahul found Liton short and dented the hopes of the Tigers, who eventually lost momentum after resumption.  

Following Liton's wicket, opener Najmul Hossain Shanto and skipper Shakib Al Hasan struck two boundaries but eventually India held their nerves as the Tigers fell short. 

Despite the loss, Bangladesh are mathematically still in with a chance to qualify for the semifinals. For that to happen, three results have to go in favour of the Tigers as they have to bank on Pakistan to beat South Africa on Thursday. 

On November 06, Bangladesh then must beat Pakistan and hope that South Africa lose their encounter against the Netherlands, so that the Tigers qualify into the semis as group runners-up behind India.