DHAKA // Noise? What noise? India silenced the sound of thunder, as well as the best part of 30,000 crazed Bangladeshi cricket supporters as they claimed a record-breaking Asia Cup title in Mirpur.
The eight-wicket win meant they were the first winners of this competition in the Twenty20 format. It also extended their overall haul of Asia Cups to six, one better than the deposed champions Sri Lanka.
Fair to say, though, it was not the popular vote in this district of Bangladesh’s packed capital city.
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All manner of things rained on Bangladesh’s parade. Most potently, the rain. An hour and a half before the scheduled start, an unforecast yet entirely spectacular electrical storm emerged from nowhere.
The sides had started going through some light warm up drills, then within seconds a strong wind eddied across the field, and rain swirled with it.
Four Indian players who were playing keepy-uppy with a football on the edge of the square were whipped by the tarpaulin covers as they raced for the dressing room on the opposite side of the ground.
The power supply was cut. The floodlights went out. Supporters fled for shelter. Flimsily assembled advertising hoardings broke from their fastenings and fell down the stands.
Yet even before the rain had fully stopped, supporters were back in their seats baying for the match to start. One in particular seemed to regard fighting the storm as a badge of honour.
With lightning flashing just to the south of the stadium, he stood alone in the open, waving a Bangladesh flag proudly.
The drainage system at this ground is touted as best in the subcontinent. In seems a weird brag to make, but given the amount of rainfall Bangladesh is subjected to, it is rather handy. Despite the deluge, the match started, two hours late and as a 15-overs-per-side contest.
Then the toss went against the home side. Generally in shortened matches, the side batting second has a greater advantage, and MS Dhoni had no hesitation about bowling first.
And then there was India. The party-poopers extraordinaire. On the eve of the match, Ravi Shastri, their team director, had been asked about the frenzied atmosphere awaiting the final. “Who cares?” were the exact words he went for.
It was in that spirit that India went about constricting the home batsmen. Jasprit Bumrah, their revelatory 22-year-old quick bowler, was the standout. His figures of one for 13 from 18 balls included bowling the final over of the innings.
At that point, Mahmudullah had found his range. When he hit the second of his sixes in his innings of 33 not out from 13 balls, the sound that welcomed it far exceeded any of the earlier thunderclaps.
The 120 for five Bangladesh reached was one less than they had managed in losing the opening match of tournament to India, and in five fewer overs.
Child’s play to chase, for a team of India’s capabilities, of course. They are returning home to host a party of their own now. On the evidence of this Asia Cup, the portents look good for a three-week long rave up at the World Twenty20.
It goes without saying Virat Kohli was at the crease when victory was secured. Perhaps more importantly for India, though, Shikhar Dhawan had laid the basis for it.
The left-handed opener had been one of the few Indian batsmen who had looked off-form in this competition.
He was back to his best at just the right time, as he made 60 in 44 balls, his second T20 international half-century.
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