A high-stakes quarter-final between neighbours, India and Bangladesh, in the 2015 World Cup in Australia/New Zealand was awaited with much interest by cricket fans world over. India had embarrassingly lost to Bangladesh eight years before this clash in another World Cup match at Port of Spain, also in the month of March.
The slow start
India won the toss and opted to bat first at the MCG, where they had already won a crucial match against South Africa in the group stages. Bangladesh bowlers were pretty tight and barely gave anything away to the Indian openers, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.
Mashrafe Mortaza, the architect of Bangladesh's victory in 2007 against India, kept things tight while Taskin Ahmed and Nasir Hossain were equally adept.
The first wicket came from Shakib Al Hasan, however, as a fidgety Dhawan stepped out of his crease to be dismissed stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim. Kohli followed in the next over as Rubel Hossain tempted him with a teaser outside off stump.
Hossain went on to deliver an excellent opening spell of 6-0-14-1 that put pressure on India. Rohit sedately managed to reach his half-century but there were no free runs available. Taskin then had Rahane caught and this brought Raina to the wicket.
The Raina-Rohit stand that changed things
Raina walked out with a positive intent and increased the scoring rate with some quick running and inside out shots. Rohit too gained some confidence from Raina's explosive batting and upped the ante.
The duo put on 122 in 95 balls as India raced to a good total. Raina steered the ship with an excellent half-century studded with seven fours and a mighty six off Shakib over long on. He was eventually dismissed for 65 by Mortaza who had him top edging to the keeper.
The no-ball controversy
Rohit Sharma started slowly but ensured he was not dismissed cheaply. From 60 off 80 balls, Rohit raced to a sensational, game-changing 137 off 126 balls but not before embroiling himself in some controversy.
The Indian opener was on 90 off 101 balls when he hit a high full toss from Rubel Hossain to the deep fielder. Aleem Dar signalled a no-ball, however, replays showed it to be a marginal call.
A furious Bangladesh Cricket Board President stated after the game, "Naturally we will appeal against these decisions in our report. It won't change the result, unfortunately. One wrong decision can make a huge difference in a World Cup quarter-final. I have had discussions with the ICC president (Mustafa Kamal) as no one else among the senior (ICC) officials were here in Melbourne. Legally what needs to be done, we will do it."
Jadeja's burst and Rohit’s final over slogs took India past the 300 mark, the second highest score in a knockout game in the World Cup.
Bangladesh stutter in chase
With a huge 303 to chase down, Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes walked out to the middle. Tamim got off to a flier, racing to a run a ball 25 before he edged Umesh Yadav to Dhoni as Bangladesh lost their first wicket, a big one, at 33.
A brain fade moment in the very next ball from Kayes was capitalised on by Jadeja and the opener was run out as the Tigers slipped to 33/2, losing wickets off consecutive balls.
The middle-order that couldn't kick on
Mahmudullah, fresh from two magnificent hundreds, and the dynamic Soumya Sarkar both got off to decent starts to keep Bangladesh in the chase. However, the 40-run stand ended when Mohammad Shami had Mahmudullah hooking to Dhawan at long leg, who took a juggling catch.
Shami struck two overs later yet again when Sarkar edged him to Dhoni to depart for 29, the third Bangladeshi to fall in the 20s in the game. Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim tried to lift Bangladesh from the hole they had dug for themselves but Jadeja struck as he had Shakib edging to short third man.
At 104/5, Bangladesh were all but out of the game and Ashwin and Jadeja kept things pretty tight with their variations.
The collapse
Umesh Yadav produced a spectacular bouncer to Rahim, who top-edged to Dhoni to depart for 27 as yet another Tigers batsman failed to kick on from a start. Nasir Hossain and Sabbir Rahman entertained the Bangladesh fans for a while but the writing was already on the wall.
Overs 42-45 saw Bangladesh lose their last four wickets for a mere four runs as they completed collapsed. From 189/6 they were bowled out for 193. Umesh finished off with four to his name as he dismissed Rubel and Sabbir.
India progress to the semis
The quarter-final that had created so much interest turned out to be a rather one-sided contest with Bangladesh starting off well but never managing to tighten the noose. They were unfortunate with the Rohit Sharma no-ball call, but it would have hardly mattered in hindsight.
Ashwin and Umesh were excellent for India with the ball. Although the former did not have anything to show in the wickets column, he was exceptional with his control and gave little away in his 10 over spell that went for just 30.
Umesh, meanwhile, picked up the key wickets of Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Sabbir Rahman to finish with 4/31. India progressed to the semi-finals where they would go on to lose to eventual champions and hosts, Australia.
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