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Rediff.com  » Cricket » PHOTOS: Karthik does a Dhoni, propels India to T20 title

PHOTOS: Karthik does a Dhoni, propels India to T20 title

Last updated on: March 19, 2018 09:59 IST
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Dinesh Karthik hit the final ball for a six to guide India to the T20 tri-series title, reminding many of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's famous six in the 2011 World Cup. Incidentally, Karthik had taken Dhoni's place as the wicketkeeper-batsman for this tournament after the veteran was rested along with few others regulars like captain Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah.

Dinesh Karthik

IMAGE: The Indian team celebrate after winning the Twenty20 tri-series title. Photograph: Sri Lanka Cricket/Twitter

India survived late drama in a pulsating final to clinch the Twenty20 tri-series after Dinesh Karthik smashed the final ball for a six to secure their thrilling four-wicket victory against a gallant Bangladesh side on Sunday.

 

With India needing 34 runs off the last two overs, Karthik hammered 29 not out off just eight deliveries, his third six sealing India's third, and the most hard-earned, victory over Bangladesh in the tournament.

Put into bat, Bangladesh made 166-8, a total they owe largely to number three batsman Sabbir Rahman who made 77 after their top order collapsed.

Chasing 167 to win, India lost openers Shikhar Dhawan and number three Suresh Raina early but skipper Rohit Sharma batted comfortably to score 56 and keep India's chase on track.

Dinesh Karthik

IMAGE: Dinesh Karthik acknowledges the fans in the stadium after guiding India to a thrilling victory in the final. Photograph: BCCI

He and KL Rahul (24) found it easy going against the Bangladesh bowlers until Sharma went for a fatal slog-sweep of Nazmul Islam, departing with three sixes and four boundaries to his name.

Mustafizur Rahman then bowled a masterly 18th over, when his first five balls at Vijay Shankar yielded only one run and Manish Pandey (28) perished off the sixth trying to accelerate the contest.

Next man in Karthik exploded immediately, hitting the first ball he faced for a six and plundering 22 runs off that over from Rubel Hossain to turn the match on its head.

Needing 12 runs off the last over from Soumya Sarkar, Shankar fell to the fifth delivery with India still five runs away.

Dinesh Karthik celebrates with Washington Sundar after playing his match-winning six off the last ball 

IMAGE: Dinesh Karthik celebrates with Washington Sundar after hitting a match-winning six off the last ball. Photograph: BCCI/Twitter

Karthik nonchalantly hit the final ball for a six to trigger wild celebration by a young India team which had rested regular skipper Virat Kohli and stumper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, among others.

Karthik's six guided India to a memorable triumph, reminding many of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's famous six in the 2011 World Cup. Incidentally, Karthik had taken Dhoni's place as the wicketkeeper-batsman for this tournament after the veteran was rested along with few others regulars like captain Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah.

Captain Sharma had earlier opted to bowl after winning the toss, influenced partly by the fact that chasing teams had won five of the six matches prior to the final.

Bangladesh suffered early jolts and slumped to 68 for four, midway through their innings, after leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (3-18) struck three blows, dismissing Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim.

IMAGE: Captain Rohit Sharma and the Indian players celebrate after winning the Twenty20 tri-series title. Photograph: Sri Lanka Cricket/Twitter

Sabbir took the onus on himself to rescue Bangladesh and he got some support from Mahmudulla who made 21.

Even though wickets kept tumbling at the other end, Sabbir brought up his half-century off 37 balls to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Paceman Jaydev Unadkat struck twice in the penultimate over of the Bangladesh innings, dismissing Sabbir and Rubel Hossain.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz made 19 not out off seven balls to help Bangladesh cross the 150-mark.

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