Sharma hits 75 to lead India into Asia Cup final with 41-run win over Bangladesh

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – India reached the Asia Cup final after Abhishek Sharma struck 75 off 37 balls and Kuldeep Yadav picked 3-18 in four overs in a 41-run win over Bangladesh in their Super Four encounter on Wednesday.

Sharma hit five sixes en route to his fourth T20 half-century as he powered India to 168-6 in 20 overs, after Bangladesh won the toss and opted to field.

Hardik Pandya’s 38 off 29 balls helped India recover from a middle-order hiccup and finish with a par score on a slow wicket at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

In reply, Bangladesh was restricted to 127 all out despite a fourth T20 half-century from Saif Hassan. He scored 69 off 51 balls but couldn’t help his side to a second victory chasing a similar target to when Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka here on Saturday.

India’s fielding left much to be desired again – it dropped five catches – but dominant displays from Sharma and its spinners were enough to book a spot in the final.

It is the second time India has reached the Asia Cup T20 final, having won the title in 2016 after beating Bangladesh.

Bangladesh will take on Pakistan at the same venue on Thursday to determine the second finalist. India’s win meant Sri Lanka was eliminated.

The Indian openers made a watchful start but soon hit top gear as 21 runs came in the fourth over and Sharma-Gill added 77 off 38 balls for the first wicket.

The powerplay yielded 72-0 and Gill scored 29 off 19 balls with two sixes. He fell in the seventh over, caught off Rishad Hossain at long off.

Hossain struck again as promoted Shivam Dube was out for two, caught in the same manner, and India was down to 83-2 in 8.1 overs.

But there was no stopping Sharma, who belted sixes at will against the spinners and pacers alike, bringing up a second consecutive half-century off 25 balls.

India crossed 100 just past the halfway stage as Sharma put on 29 off 18 balls for the third wicket even though skipper Suryakumar Yadav only contributed four runs to the partnership.

Sharma scored 25 off the next 12 balls, but a big moment came in the 12th over when Hossain made a good stop and ran out the opener, who was stranded midway. Yadav (5) was out caught five balls later as India lost all momentum at 114-4.

Pandya helped string together a valuable partnership with the lower-middle order and push India past 150 in the 18th over. He hit four fours and a six, adding 39 off 33 balls with Axar Patel, who scored 10 not out.

Despite wickets in hand, India managed only four runs in the last over and finished short of an intended 180-target.

Jasprit Bumrah got India’s bowler off to a good start when he dismissed Tanzid Hassan for one. Saif Hassan and Parvez Emon put on 42 off 30 balls to put the chase back on track, but things changed as soon as India deployed its spinners as all of them struck in their first spells.

Kuldeep Yadav sent back Emon, out caught at square leg for 21 off 19 balls. Varun Chakravarthy then bowled Shamim Hossain for a three-ball duck. In between, Patel had Towhid Hridoy caught for seven as Bangladesh slipped to 74-4 in 10.4 overs.

Any hope of a turnaround was put out as Suryarkumar Yadav ran out his counterpart Jaker Ali in the 13th over.

Saif Hassan put up resistance, though, as he reached a second consecutive half-century off 36 balls, including three fours and six sixes. He enjoyed some luck along the way, dropped by Indian fielders on 40, 60, 65 and 69.

But he didn’t get enough support from the other as the Indian spinners – including part-timer Tilak Varma – shared seven wickets to help their side reach the final.