India cruise into Semis: beats Bangladesh
Defending champions India ended battling Bangladesh's World Cup journey with a crushing 109-run victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to cruise into semi-finals on Thursday.
The two-time champions stretched their unbeaten tournament run to seven wins and will now face either co-hosts Australia or Pakistan in Sydney on March 26.
Opener Rohit Sharma top-scored with 137 off 126 balls and Suresh Raina hit a rapid-fire 65 from 57 balls to rescue India from early trouble in a 122-run stand that left Bangladesh facing a challenging target of 303.
The Indians, who were struggling initially at 115 for three, wriggled free to reach 302 for six by the end. Rohit blasted his seventh ODI century and had a big break on 90 when he holed out to deep mid-wicket off Rubel Hossain, only for umpire Ian Gould to signal a no-ball for what appeared to be a legitimate waist-high delivery.
In reply, and trying to become the first team to successfully chase a 300-plus run target to win a one-day international at the MCG, Bangladesh were never in contention, slipping to 193 all out in the 45th over.
Nasir Hossain top scored for the Tigers, playing in their first quarter-final, with a modest 35 as India celebrated a seventh win in seven games at this World Cup.
India will play Pakistan in the semi-finals in Sydney on March 26 if their bitter rivals defeat Australia in a quarter-final in Adelaide on Friday.
The other semi-final, to be played in Auckland on March 24, will feature South Africa against either New Zealand or the West Indies, who meet in Wellington on Saturday.
News Posted: 19 March, 2015
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