KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer push India to 174/5 in T20 series decider
Nagpur, Nov 10: Shreyas Iyer and K L Rahul smashed sublime half-centuries to propel India to 174 for five in the series-deciding third and final T20 International against Bangladesh here on Sunday.
It was a maiden T20 half-century for Iyer (62 off 33) and the sixth one for Rahul (52 off 35). Iyer's entertaining knock came after he was dropped on 0.
Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah followed the template set in the series by winning the toss and opting to field.
India made an unexpected call by dropping a bowler in Krunal Pandya for middle-order batsman Manish Pandey.
The hosts were dealt a body blow in the second over when pacer Shafiul Islam removed their skipper Rohit Sharma (2), who had made a sublime 85 in the series-levelling win in Rajkot. Rohit tried to whip a length ball but only managed to get an inside edge on to the stumps.
Rahul joined Shikhar Dhawan (19 off 16) in the middle and with both the batsmen under pressure having not made an impact in the first two games, the situation provided them an ideal platform to deliver.
Dhawan, who has found it tough to accelerate of late, got going with successive boundaries off Al-Amin Hossain. Rahul too began his innings in similar fashion, going for the aerial straight drive before punching Islam through point.
However, Dhawan could not last long after hitting four boundaries, mistiming a slog to be caught in the deep by Mahmudullah.
India once again could not get to a good start batting first, struggling to 41 for two in six overs. It would have been three down at that stage if Aminul Islam had not dropped a regulation catch off incoming batsman Iyer at backward point.
Rahul and Iyer gave a much needed boost to the Indian innings with a 59-run stand.
Rahul in full flow is always a treat to the eye and that is what the Nagpur crowd witnessed. He completed his fifty off 33 balls before getting caught at mid-off two balls later, leaving India at 94 for three in the 13th over.
Iyer, who made a sedate start to his innings, went ballistic after Rahul's departure. He was especially brutal against the spinners and hit three sixes over long-on off Afif Hossain.
Iyer, who raced to his 50 off 27 balls, ended up hammering five sixes and three boundaries.
Rishabh Pant (6), who has copped a lot of criticism of late both for his batting and wicket-keeping, disappointed once again when the team needed him to provide the big hits. He struggled in his nine ball stay and was eventually bowled after being deceived by a slower one from medium pacer Soumya Sarkar.
Pandey (22 not out off 13), playing his first game of the series, came up with welcome boundaries in the death overs to take the total beyond 170.
With 149 being the average first innings score here, Bangladesh will have to bat really well to chase down 175.
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Abhishek attacks BJP over UCC impact, pending Kurmali language recognition
Jhargram (WB) (PTI): Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday attacked the BJP over the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the pending recognition of the Kurmali language, making the two issues central to his address at a rally in Gopiballavpur in Jhargram district.
Noting that the BJP promised in its manifesto to impose the UCC if voted to power in West Bengal, Banerjee claimed that it would adversely impact the members of the Scheduled Tribes by overriding their customs and practices.
He also accused the saffron party of trying to divide people along religious lines.
The TMC national general secretary also charged the central government with inaction on the demand to include the Kurmali language, spoken by a large number of people in several parts of the state including Jhargram district, in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
He said the TMC government in West Bengal had written to the Centre two months ago seeking its inclusion, but no steps had been taken so far by the Narendra Modi government.
In its manifesto for Bengal, the BJP also promised to include Kurmali and Rajbanshi languages in the Eighth Schedule. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also made the same pledge during a poll rally in Purulia district.
Banerjee alleged that BJP leaders were trying to exploit the Kurmi community's sentiments and mislead people with false promises.
He cautioned women against filling forms for a proposed monthly assistance of Rs 3,000, alleging that no BJP-ruled state has implemented such a scheme despite similar assurances.
In contrast, he highlighted the state's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, under which women receive Rs 1,500 (general category) and Rs 1,700 (SC/ST) per month, irrespective of the number of beneficiaries in a family.
Around 70,000 women in the constituency are availing the benefit in the Gopiballavpur constituency, he said.
Urging voters to back Trinamool Congress in the election, Banerjee said the party guarantees the continuation of welfare schemes, noting the state spends around Rs 38,000 crore annually on Lakshmir Bhandar.
Banerjee also claimed that over 11,000 poor families in the constituency have received Rs 1.2 lakh each under the Banglar Bari housing scheme, and alleged that the Centre had contributed "not even 10 paise" in this regard.
He added that farmers and youth have also benefited from state-run assistance programmes.
Attacking the Centre over inflation, he referred to the rising prices of essential goods like LPG cylinders, petrol and essential commodities, to allege that people were being burdened by increased costs since the BJP had taken over at the Centre.
He also promised direct transfer of pending old-age pensions and expansion of healthcare services through block-level health camps.
Calling the election a fight to "teach the BJP a lesson", Banerjee appealed to voters to turn out in large numbers and ensure a decisive mandate in favour of the Trinamool Congress.
The elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
