Nidahas Trophy: Sabbir Rahman fifty in vain as Bangladesh lose thriller

Sabbir Rahman’s fourth Twenty20 fifty went in vain as India beat Bangladesh by four wickets to win the Nidahas Trophy T20 tri-nation series in Colombo on Sunday.

Sabbir Rahman’s fourth Twenty20 fifty went in vain as India defeated Bangladesh by four wickets to win the Nidahas Trophy T20 tri-nation series in Colombo on Sunday. (IND vs BAN HIGHLIGHTS)

Sabbir Rahman in action during the Nidahas Trophy T20 final between India and Bangladesh in Colombo. (AP)

The right-hander reached the landmark off 37 balls and he showed his class after Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar had wrecked the Bangladesh top-order. The 26-year-old started scratchily, slog sweeping a flighted ball from Chahal just over the head of the midwicket fielder while he top-edged a short ball from Shardul Thakur over wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik’s head for a boundary. (IND vs BAN SCORES)

After a few mistimed shots, Sabbir targeted Vijay Shankar and in the seventh over, the batsman hoicked a full ball over deep mid wicket and employed the paddle-sweep to get his third boundary to fine leg. After building a solid partnership with Mahmudullah, Sabbir got closer to his landmark with two boundaries, one a misfield at short fine by Chahal and a straight drive off Thakur.

Sabbir notched up his first Twenty20 fifty in two years by heaving Sundar over wide long on for his second six and followed it up with a drive to long on. After going past his landmark, Sabbir struck gtwo sixes off Vijay Shankar over deep mid wicket to boost Bangladesh in the death overs.