MIRPUR ( Bangladesh): Pakistan held their nerve to beat Bangladesh
in a nail biting final at Mirpur to clinch the Asia Cup trophy on
Thursday.
Bangladesh’s hope of winning their maiden Asia Cup
title was spoiled by the Pakistani bowlers who restricted hosts two
short of the winning target.
Chasing 237, Bangladesh got off to a
brisk start as Tamim Iqbal and Nazimuddin took the hosts past 50-mark
without allowing the visitors any success.
Iqbal scored his
fourth consecutive half ton to keep Pakistani bowlers at bay. However,
just after Iqbal’s half-ton Afridi struck for Pakistan ending
Nazimuddin’s challenge.
Before the hosts could recover form the first blow, Ajmal spell magic to scalp Islam at the score of 68.
Pakistan pacer Umar Gul got rid of Tamim Iqbal (60) after his solid show to rattle Bangladesh after a brisk start.
Gul got Iqbal caught by Younis Khan to reduce Bangladesh to 81/3 in 24 th over.
Iqbal’s dismissal came soon after spinners’ double-strike that spoiled Bangladesh’s steady start.
After
recording two upsets in the form India and Sri Lanka already in the
event, giant-killers Bangladesh are in with a golden opportunity to
create history by halting Pakistan within a reachable target.
But
if not for some lacklustre bowling by Shahdat Hossain towards the end
and useful contributions from Shahid Afridi (32) and wicket-keeper
Sarfaraz Ahmed (46 not out), the target could have been much lower for
Bangladesh.
Shahdat gave away 19 runs in the final over of the
innings and was guilty of bowling two no-balls, which not only boosted
Pakistan’s score but also their confidence.
Young Sarfaraz
top-scored for Pakistan with an unbeaten 46, while Shahid Afridi played a
22-ball 32-run cameo to wriggle Pakistan out of trouble.
Mohammad Hafeez (40), Umar Akmal (30) and Hammad Azam (30) all failed to capitalise on good starts.
For
Bangaldesh, experienced pacer Mashrafe Mortaza (2/48)), and spin duo of
Abdur Razak (2/26) and Shakib Al Hasan (2/39) scalped two wickets
apiece, while Nazmul Hossain (1/36) and Mahmudullah (1/14) picked up one
each. Shahdat conceded 63 runs off his nine overs.
Backed by a
partisan home crowd, Bangladesh made a dream start to their maiden Asia
Cup title quest by striking early blows after inviting Pakistan to bat.
Experienced pacer Mortaza and his new-ball partner Nazmul picked
up wicket apiece in consecutive overs to reduce Pakistan to 19 for two
in 5.2 overs.
Left-handed opener Nasir Jamshed was the first
Pakistani batsman to fall in the fifth over, handing a simple catch to
Mahmudullah at cover of a slower delivery from Mortaza while trying to
clear the in-field. Online
