Chahar rewrites history as India trump Bangladesh

Deepak Chahar bagged six wickets for seven runs, recording the best figure for a bowler in a T20 international. AFP
Deepak Chahar bagged six wickets for seven runs, recording the best figure for a bowler in a T20 international. AFP

Mohammad Naim's classy innings of 81 in 48 balls went in vain as Deepak Chahar bagged six wickets, including a hattrick, to lead India to a 30-run win in the final T20 in Nagpur on Sunday.

The bowler conceded just seven runs in the 3.2 overs he bowled, recording the best figure for a bowler in a T20 international, as the hosts sealed the three-game series 2-1.

Although the Tigers lost the match, Naim's knock, studded with 10 fours and two sixes, probably gave the fans some consolation. With the T20 World Cup coming next year, they might feel Tamim Iqbal has got his ideal opening partner.

Chasing 175, the Tigers had the worst possible start when Chahar got rid of Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar in consecutive balls in the second over, to leave them two wickets down on 12.

Naim`s knock was studded with 10 fours and two sixes. AFP
Naim`s knock was studded with 10 fours and two sixes. AFP

The impressive Naim and Mohammad Mithun now added 98 runs in the third wicket and the Tigers fans were dreaming of a historic victory.

However, Chahar removed Mithun in the last ball of the 13th over and in the very next ball Mushfiqur Rahim's bat led the ball to his wicket off a Dube delivery to deal the Tigers' hopes a massive blow.

Dube then bowled Naim to put the game beyond doubt, rendering the young batsman the fate of a tragic hero.

Barring Naim and Mithun, none of the Bangladesh batsmen could reach double figures.

The first wicket of Chahar's hattrick came in the last ball of the 18th over, when Lokesh Rahul took a catch to dismiss Shafiul Islam.

Khaleel Ahmed bowled the 19th and Chahar claimed his treble in the first two balls of the 20th over, first making Mustafizur Rahman give a catch to Shreyas Iyer and then dislodging the wicket of Aminul Islam with a yorker.

Put into bat first, quickfire fifties from Lokesh Rahul and Shreyas Iyer helped India make 174 for 5.

India did not have a bright start either as captain Rohit Sharma was bowled by Shafiul Islam with the score on 3.

Shafiul also removed Rohit's fellow opener Shikhar Dhawan, who scored 19 off 16 with four fours, but Rahul and Iyer made sure the situation does not get worse.

Rahul slammed 52 in 35 balls courtesy of seven fours before giving a catch to Liton Das in an Al-Amin Hossain delivery.

Top-scorer Iyer powered three fours and five sixes to make 62 in 33 deliveries. Iyer's dangerious innings was ended by Soumya Sarkar, who also bagged the wicket of Rishabh Pant.

Manish Pandey, brought into the side to replace Krunal Pandya, added 22 off 13 balls late on to take the hosts to a better score.

The teams will now play a two-game Tests series, the first one starting in Indore on 14 November and the second one, to be played in Kolkata, billed to be a day-night affair.