For a change in this series, the team that lost the toss ended up on the winning side. That apart, skipper Rohit Sharma roared back into form with an innings that oozed style, substance and, most importantly, discipline. What didn’t change, though, was the extent of India’s stranglehold over Bangladesh in this format. A place in Sunday’s final is assured and it’s time for some well-deserved rest for Rohit and his boys.

India’s 17-run victory was built around a total of 176/3. Rohit’s 89-run knock (61 balls, 5xr, 5×6), his 102-run partnership with Suresh Raina (47), his opening stand with Shikhar Dhawan (35) and some brilliant bowling from Washington Sundar (3/22) who’s handling of the new ball has been exemplary.

As he so valiantly has on many occasions, Mushfiqur Rahim’s unbeaten 72 kept Bangladesh interested but he kept losing partners. He faced 55 balls and hit eight fours and a six.

Dhawan and Rohit built a 30-run-plus partnership in this format for the first time this year. They were cautious to begin with and their approach was prudent because it was a sluggish wicket at the Premadasa.

Dhawan was starting to look a bit uncomfortable late into his innings as he was finding it hard to time the ball well. It was a yorker-length ball from Rubel Hossain that claimed him when it uprooted the middle stump. This was India’s highest opening-wicket stand against Bangladesh.

There wasn’t anything unpredictable about Rohit eventually opening up and smashing five into the empty stands. With Raina for company, he expressed himself like a champion. In the last five overs, India were scoring at nearly 12 an over, a fantastic performance given the conditions.

Bangladesh had intent and they made their intentions clear with a flurry of boundaries. Mohammed Siraj bore the brunt early but Sundar’s wit outsmarted Liton Das in the next over and he was stumped by Dinesh Karthik, who completed his 50th stumping in T20s in a match where Sundar returned career-best figures.

Rahim, attempted to rescue his team for the second time but he received little support when it mattered. With five overs to go and Bangladesh 61 away. Sundar signed off with a four-run over to pile on some more pressure. Shardul Thakur’s growing control on his knuckle ball rewarded him again. He broke the 65-run partnership between Sabbir Rahman and Rahim.

All in all India had a fruitful day at work. They need to iron out some chinks. The three-day break should work wonders.