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PIX: Chahar's 'trick' sinks Bangladesh as India clinch series

Last updated on: November 10, 2019 23:36 IST

Images from the third Twenty20 International between India and Bangladesh, in Nagpur, on Sunday.

Deepak Chahar

IMAGE: Deepak Chahar celebrates after completing his hat-trick, which helped India beat Bangladesh by 30 runs to win the T20I series 2-1. Photograph: BCCI

Pacer Deepak Chahar took a sensational six-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, after entertaining half-centuries from Shreyas Iyer and K L Rahul, as India defeated a self-destructing Bangladesh by 30 runs in the third and final T20 International to win the series 2-1, in Nagpur, on Sunday.

 

Chahar (6 for 7 in 3.2 overs), who registered best figures in a T20 match besides becoming the first Indian to take a hat-trick in the shortest format, and fellow-pacer Shivam Dube (3 for 30) shared nine wickets between themselves to register India's first T20 series win at home this season.

Heavy late evening dew rendered the spinners ineffective, but Chahar and Dube rose to the occasion.

IMAGE: India's players congratulate Deepak Chahar, centre, on completing his hat-trick. Photograph: BCCI

Iyer (62 off 33) and Rahul (52 off 35) had earlier smashed sublime half-centuries to propel India to 174 for five after Bangladesh opted to field. Chasing the target, the visitors were all out for 144 in 19.2 overs.

With 50 needed off the last 30 balls and six wickets in hand, Bangladesh had a great opportunity to win the series but crumbled under pressure.

Rookier opener Mohammad Naim (81 of 48) played a blinder to take Bangladesh deep into the game before they lost five wickets for 20 runs to blow it all away.

IMAGE: Shivam Dube celebrates after dismissing Mohammad Naim. Photograph: BCCI

Chasing a challenging 175, Bangladesh suffered early setbacks as Chahar had opener Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar caught off successive balls to leave the visitors at 12 for two.

Naim, playing his debut series, and Mohammad Mithun (27) shared a 98-run stand for the third wicket to bring their team back into the contest.

Left-hander Naim played some exquisite strokes especially against the spinners and welcomed Yuzvendra Chahal into the attack with three consecutive fours.

India's Shreyas Iyer celebrates completing 50

IMAGE: India's Shreyas Iyer celebrates completing his half-century. Photograph: BCCI

Earlier, a maiden half-century for Iyer and sixth for Rahul helped India put up a competitive total. Iyer's cracking knock came after he was dropped on 0.

Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah followed the template set in the series by winning the toss and opting to field.

India made an unexpected call by dropping a bowler in Krunal Pandya for middle-order batsman Manish Pandey.

India opener Rohit Sharma is bowled by Shafiul Islam

IMAGE: India captain and opener Rohit Sharma is bowled by Shafiul Islam. Photograph: BCCI

The hosts were dealt a body blow in the second over when pacer Shafiul Islam removed skipper Rohit Sharma (2), who had scored a sublime 85 in the series-levelling win in Rajkot.

Rohit tried to whip a length ball but only managed to get an inside edge on to the stumps.

Rahul joined Shikhar Dhawan (19 off 16) in the middle and with both the batsmen under pressure having not made an impact in the first two games, the situation provided them an ideal platform to deliver.

Dhawan, who has found it tough to accelerate of late, got going with successive boundaries off Al-Amin Hossain. Rahul too began his innings in similar fashion, going for the aerial straight drive before punching Islam through point. 

However, Dhawan did not last long. After hitting four boundaries he mistimed a slog and was caught in the deep by Mahmudullah.

Lokesh Rahul scored seven fours in his 52 off 35 balls.

IMAGE: Lokesh Rahul scored seven fours in his 52 off 35 balls. Photograph: BCCI

India once again could not get to a good start batting first, struggling to 41 for two in six overs. It would have been three down at that stage if Aminul Islam had not dropped a regulation catch off incoming batsman Iyer at backward point.

Rahul and Iyer provided the much-needed boost to the Indian innings with a 59-run stand. Rahul in full flow is always a treat to the eye and that is what the Nagpur crowd witnessed. He completed his fifty off 33 balls before getting caught at mid-off two balls later, leaving India at 94 for three in the 13th over.

Shreyas Iyer made the best of a 'life' after being dropped on 0 to score 62 off 33 balls.

IMAGE: Shreyas Iyer made the best of a 'life' after being dropped on 0 to score an entertaining 62 off 33 balls. Photograph: BCCI

Iyer, who made a sedate start to his innings, went ballistic after Rahul's departure. He was especially brutal against the spinners and hit three sixes over long-on off Afif Hossain.

Iyer, who raced to his 50 off 27 balls, ended up hammering five sixes and three boundaries.  

Rishabh Pant (6), who has copped a lot of criticism of late, both for his batting and wicket-keeping, disappointed again when the team needed him to provide the big hits. He struggled in his nine-ball stay and was eventually bowled, deceived by a slower one from medium pacer Soumya Sarkar.

Pandey (22 not out off 13), playing his first game of the series, came up with welcome boundaries in the death overs to take the total beyond 170.

With 149 being the average first innings score at the venue, Bangladesh will have to bat really well to chase down 175.