Bangladesh reaches final defeating Pakistan

Bangladesh reached in to the Asia Cup final defeating Pakistan by five wickets at Shere Bangla National Stadium in city’s Mirpur on Wednesday night.

 

This victory takes Bangladesh on India in Sunday’s blockbuster Asia Cup T20 final, leaving all other activities including two league games as mere academic exercise.

 

The tigers stunned Pakistan as Bangladesh crossed the 130-run target in 19.1 over remaining 5 more balls in hand. Mahmudullah Riyad played the winning shot for four.

 

A full toss delivery from Anwar Ali to Mahmudullah, took on middle, helped over deep midwicket in style generating off the bottom hand.

 

The dependent finisher Mahmudullah along with the Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe batted unbeaten 22 off 15 hitting two fours and one six declared as the coolest player of the match.

 

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza came in after Shakib Al Hasan out as fifth wicket fall in Bangladshi innings in 17.2 over when tigers were needed 26 runs to win in just 16 ball only. Mashrafe took the momentum and played two boundaries that made some pressure loss. Mortaza batted unbeaten 12 off 7 with two boundaries.

 

Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim another Bangladeshi batsman who failed to build any big partnership getting out as Shoib Malik trapped him in to a LBW in 14.2 over.

 

Soumya Sarkar, who batted confidently against the Pakistani bowling made the top score for Bangladesh. He played 48 off 48 hitting five boundaries and one six.

 

Sarkar with Sabbir and Mushfiq made two partnerships of 33 and 37 respectively eased the chase for the tigers.

Bangladesh lost opener Tamim Iqbal in the second over in their innings

 

Later, Sabbir Rahman joined Soumya Sarkar and trying to repair the innings and keep the batting momentum alive. After end of seventh over, Bangladesh scored 40 for 1.

 

Soumya Sarkar was on 21 off 26 hitting three boundaries while Sabbir was on 10 off 12 hitting one four.

 

After losing four wickets for 28 runs, Pakistan finally managed to set a fighting target of 130 for Bangladesh in the eighth match of five-nation Asia Cup at Shere Bangla National Stadium in city’s Mirpur on Wednesday evening.

 

70-run partnership between Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed gave Pakistan the momentum to reach on 129 for seven wickets lost.

 

Before getting out as fifth wicket down by Arafat Sunny, Shoib Malik scored 41 off 30 hitting five boundaries and one over boundary.

 

Sarfaraz Ahmed batted unbeaten 58 of 42 with five boundaries and two over boundaries. He was the top scorer for the Pakistan side.

Pakistan Skipper Shahid Afridi ducked as he was caught by Sabbir Rahman in Al Amin’s ball in the eighteenth over.

 

Later, Anwar Ali was out in 13 off 9 in the last ball of the innings by Al Amin Hossain.

 

Pakistani batsmen failed to take charges against Bangladeshi bowling and lost four early wickets for just 28 runs on board in 8.2 over in the eighth match of five-nation Asia Cup at Shere Bangla National Stadium in city’s Mirpur on Wednesday evening.

 

Taskin picked up Umar Akmal’s wicket as the fourth wicket in his third over giving just one run. Shakib Al Hasan took the catch in deep point. Akmal stepped out to go over cover, ends up slicing it towards deep point. The ball was swirling in the air for a long time, Shakib positioned himself nicely and took it quite easily.

 

In the power play, Pakistan lost three early wickets of– Khurram Manzoor, (1.1 ov), Sharjeel Khan, (3.5 ov), and Mohammad Hafeez, (4.5 ov) for just 18 runs on the score board.

 

In a must win match, Pakistan is now scrambled on the pitch to face tigers bowling. Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed is now batting to settle the innings.

 

End of tenth over Pakistan was on 34 for 4. Sarfaraz was on 15 off 16 while Shoib was on 2 off 6.

Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Bin Motaza sent Mohammad Hafiz back to pavilion as third wicket fall in 4.5 over trapping in to a LBW.

 

Earlier, Arafat Sunny bowled Sharjeel Khan out in the fourth over as the second breakthrough of the tigers and second failure of Pakistan in the eighth match of five-nation Asia Cup at Shere Bangla National Stadium in city’s Mirpur on Wednesday evening.

 

Earlier, Bangladeshi pacer Al Amin once again gave the first breakthrough for the tigers picking up Pakistani opener Khurram Manzoor in his first ball in the second over of the innings.

 

Al-Amin Hossain pitched on length and just takes off, Manzoor was half-forward as he looked to defend, but the ball got big on him and kissed the glove on the way through to Mushfiqur. Huge roar resonates across the stadium.

 

In the first over of the innings, Taskin Ahmed bowled and gave just one run.

 

Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi elected to bat first after winning the toss in the eighth match of the five-nation Asia Cup T20 against host Bangladesh.

 

Bangladesh brought two changes in today’s squad while and Pakistan will play with one change. Tamim Iqbal and Arafat Sunny come in and Nurul Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman went out in Bangladesh squad while Mohammad Nawaz has been replaced by Anwar Ali in Pakistan team.

 

Bangladeshi cricketers are very much confident and morally strong after two consecutive win against UAE and Sri Lanka in their last three matches. They would go for a win against Pakistan to confirm the final.

 

On the contrary, It’s the must win match for the Pakistan to keep alive their dream to play the final. Pakistan won against UAE after being smashed by the India in their first match of the tournament.

 

Bangladesh Squad

Mashrafe Mortaza*, Abu Hider, Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim†, Nasir Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed

 

Pakistan Squad

Shahid Afridi*, Anwar Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Nawaz (3), Mohammad Sami, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Sharjeel Khan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz