Miracle World Twenty20 last ball finish!

India won a last-ball thriller to stay alive in the race for the semifinals, would remain fresh in memory of cricket lovers for years to come.

Bangladesh nearly tore the heart out of India’s collective fandom as they pursued India’s 146, losing by just one run. Eleven needed in final over from Hardik Pandya, and Bangladesh surged ahead with two fours by Mushfiqur Rahim. Two needed from three balls. Then Pandya got two in two, Rahim, Mahmudullah falling off consecutive balls. Bangladesh needed two off one. Then the dramatic run out by MS Dhoni, who sprinted up to the wicket to break the stumps, and the Indians burst out in wild celebrations. 

Earlier, Tamim Iqbal had got the Bangladesh chase off to a terrific start, but it involved a poor ball down the leg-side from Ashish Nehra and poor fielding by Jasprit Bumrah at fine leg. Iqbal got a four instead of a single; Iqbal then hit the fifth ball back at Nehra, who spilled the tough catch. Mohammad Mithun fell in the third over, and at 12/1 after three overs, it no more looked like a great start.

Then Iqbal changed gears. He got lucky once more in the fifth over when Bumrah dropped him off Ravichandran Ashwin.  Iqbal had swept Ashwin, the ball took the top edge of the bat, and Bumrah judged the catch and then let it drop out of his hands.

Iqbal, who could have been out twice by the time he’d made 15, then got an opportunity to thank Bumrah for his generosity — he hit Bumrah for four fours in the sixth over. Bangladesh were 45/1 after six overs, the target was now only 102 from 14 overs, and the Indian fans were visibly worried. Iqbal didn’t hit another four before he fell in the eighth over, stumped by Dhoni, getting 35 off 32 balls. Sabbir Rahman (26 off 15, 3×4, 1×6), Shakib Al Hasan (22 off 15, 2×6) and Soumya Sarkar (21 off 21) then played cameos to keep the chase on track.