India enters semis with easy win over Bangladesh

MIRPUR, Bangladesh (AP) — Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma struck half-centuries as India cruised to an eight-wicket win over host Bangladesh on Friday to become the first team to book its place in the World Twenty20 semifinals.

Kohli made an unbeaten 57 and Sharma 56 as India strolled to 141-2 in 18.3 overs in reply to Bangladesh's 138-7.

India thus ensured that controversies back home did not affect its performance as it reached the tournament's knockout stage for the first time since its cup triumph in 2007.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team brought the focus back on the team after India's top court ordered the removal of cricket board chief Narainswamy Srinivasan over events related to a spot-fixing controversy in last year's Indian Premier League.

Kohli, who had scored 54 against the West Indies in the last match, struck three fours and one six off 50 balls to see the team through in the company of Dhoni (22 not out).

Sharma, reprieved on 34, struck five fours and one six before he played a full toss from Mashrafe Mortaza straight to Nasir Hossain at point.

Earlier, spinners Amit Mishra and Ravichandran Ashwin shared five wickets as India restricted Bangladesh to a modest total and set up their third win from three Group 2 games.

Mishra took 3-26 and Ashwin 2-15 as India kept a steady grip after Dhoni elected to bowl first for the third time in the tournament.

"Our spinners have been bowling well and our middle-order is getting runs, so it's fine with us,"Dhoni said. "We've not been tested much so far in the tournament but there is not much we can do about that."

Ashwin used the new ball well as he struck off successive deliveries in his second over. He had opener Tamim Iqbal caught at slip for six and then Shamsur Rahman came in and tried to clobber the first ball he faced for a six, only to be caught at the square leg fence.

With allrounder Shakib Al Hasan dismissed by pace bowler Mohammad Shami, Bangladesh was 21-3 in the fifth over.

Captain Mushfiqur Rahim (24) seemed to have put the team back on course but was out trying too many shots.

Mishra, who had hauls of 2-22 versus Pakistan and 2-18 against the West Indies, struck in his second over.

He bowled a well-set Haque before taking two off successive balls in the 19th over. Nasir Hossain (16) jumped out and was stumped while Ziaur Rahman tried to clobber the ball down the ground only to be caught at long-off.

"Our batsmen have been throwing away their wickets after starting well," Rahim said. "I thought we should have got some 150 today because that would have given us a chance to fight it out better."

For Bangladesh, opener Anamul Haque made 44 and Mohammad Mahmudullah got an unbeaten 33.