India closing in on T20 World Cup semi-final spot after thrashing Bangladesh

India moved to the brink of the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup after cruising past Bangladesh by 50 runs in Antigua.

After putting on an imposing 196 for five, with all-rounder Hardik Pandya top-scoring with an unbeaten half-century off 27 balls, India kept the pressure on Bangladesh, who were restricted to 146 for eight as spinner Kuldeep Yadav bagged three wickets at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

"Our top score was 50, and we still got 196," said India captain Rohit Sharma. "In T20 you don't need fifties and hundreds, what matters is the pressure you put on the bowlers. That's how we want to play."

He added: "Hardik batting well, the way he did today, puts us in a very good place. We all know what he can do, and today was the perfect example of that. He's a very important player for us, with bat and ball."

Bangladesh had earlier won the toss and opted to field, but India – who hammered Afghanistan by 47 runs in their opening Super Eight fixture in Bridgetown – were soon on the front foot.

Captain Sharma made a rapid 23 and Virat Kohli hit a tournament-best 37 from 28 deliveries, including three sixes, as India reached 71 for two in the ninth over.

Suryakumar Yadav, though, then faced just two balls – smashing the first for six before being caught behind off Tanzim Hasan Shakib, who took two wickets in the space of three deliveries.

Rishabh Pant struck a swift 36 while Shivam Dube added 24, which saw him hit three sixes, and Pandya finished off by completing a fine half-century.

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