India began their quest for another International Cricket Council (ICC) title by dominating Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday, which concluded the first two matches in Group A, and action shifts to Group B today (February 21).
After veteran pacer Mohammed Shami once again showed his liking for ICC events with a five-wicket haul (5 for 53), India's vice-captain Shubman Gill (101 not out) took over to lead India's six-wicket win with a century while chasing Bangladesh's below-par 228 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
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"Definitely one of my most satisfying innings that I have played and my first century in ICC events," said Man-of-the-Match Gill. "Very satisfying and very happy with the way I performed."
India went in with three spinners and preferred Harshit Rana over Arshdeep Singh as the second pacer, and the right-arm fast bowler justified that with his spell of 3 for 31. Axar Patel led the spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and himself with his 2 for 43.
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Axar was unlucky to miss out on a hat-trick when skipper Rohit dropped an easy catch in the slips.
"May take him (Axar) for dinner tomorrow (smiles)," said Rohit after the match. "No, that was an easy catch; I should have taken that catch with the standards I have set for myself."
Despite their comfortable win, India remained second in Group A standings, behind toppers New Zealand on net run-rate. The Kiwis had beaten Pakistan by 60 runs in the first match of this group.
The two matches also saw as many as four centurions. Will Young and Tom Latham led New Zealand's win with their tons, while it was Gill and Bangladesh's Towhid Hridoy who hit hundreds on Thursday.
India's win paused the two-day action in Group A, with Afghanistan and South Africa getting set to open Group B at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday.
