The result ensured the Indians a semi-final berth against Australia or Pakistan in Sydney on 26 March, and humbled a Bangladeshi unit who had upstaged England less than 10 days ago.

A commanding century from opener Rohit Sharma was at the fore of India’s imposing total of 302 for six, banked after skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had won the toss and wisely opted to bat first.

Sharma’s authoritative 137 spanned a mere 122 deliveries and featured 14 fours and a trio of handsome sixes. The left-handed Suresh Raina, meanwhile, weighed in with a complementary 65, and shared a 122-run alliance inside 16 overs. The oft-dangerous Virat Kohli and Dhoni managed just three and six respectively.

Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, two weeks shy of his 20th birthday, proved the pick of the opposition bowlers. His impressive haul of three for 69, although expensive, proved there is far more to Bangladesh’s future than the one-dimensional production of average left-arm spinners.

The Tigers’ pursuit was littered with decent starts, but not one good foundation was converted to an innings of Rohit – or even Raina-esque – significance. All-rounder Hossain’s 35 was as good as it got. Captain Mushfiqur Rahim, too, should have gone beyond and unfulfilled 27.

The pace and carry of seamers Umesh Yadav and Mohit Sharma duly outdid some ordinary shot selection, as the former finished with four for 31 and the latter two for 37. Spinner Jadeja was also at hand for an important brace.

The Aussies and Pakistanis will contest Friday’s third quarter-final, and New Zealand and West Indies the fourth on Saturday.