Dominant India humble hosts, enter WT20 semis

Mahendra Singh Dhoni hugs teammate Virat Kohli. – AFP Photo

DHAKA: Leg-spinner Amit Mishra continued his awesome form as India roared into the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 with an eight-wicket demolition of hosts Bangladesh in Dhaka on Friday.

Mishra, who was man of the match in both the previous wins against Pakistan and the West Indies, finished with three for 26 as Bangladesh were restricted to 138-7 in the group two match of the Super-10s.

India surpassed the modest target with nine deliveries to spare to record their third successive win and book a semi-final berth even before their last league match against Australia on Sunday.

Rohit Sharma made 56 and Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 57, the pair sharing a 100-run stand for the second wicket after Shikhar Dhawan had been dismissed for one in the third over.

Australia, who lost to the West Indies earlier on Friday, are virtually out of the race after two defeats.

Barring any major upsets in the last two round of matches, Pakistan and the West Indies will battle for the second semi-final spot from the group.

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin chipped in with two for 15 as Bangladesh batsmen faltered in front of a sell-out home crowd of 25,000 at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Opener Anamul Haque top-scored with 44, but it was Mohammad Mahmudullah's unbeaten 32 off 23 balls that boosted the hosts after they were reduced to 82-5.

Mahmudullah, who hit five fours and a six, put on 49 for the sixth wicket with Nasir Hossain.

Bangladesh slipped to 21-3 by the fifth over after Ashwin dismissed Tamim Iqbal and Shamsur Rahman off successive deliveries.

Mishra also claimed two wickets off consecutive balls in the final over to ensure the batsmen were left to chase a small target.

When India batted, Dhawan was bowled by Al Amin Hossain before Sharma and Kohli put on their match-winning stand.

Sharma was caught at point off Mashrafe Mortaza in the 16th over when 26 more were needed for victory, but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni sealed the win with a six off Ziaur Rahman.