Asia Cup 2018 - LIVE Updates: Bangladesh defeat Pakistan
Bangladesh defeated Pakistan to play Asia Cup final against India.
(Dunya News) – Mushfiqur Rahim scored a fighting 99 to guide Bangladesh into the Asia Cup final with a convincing 37-run win over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
The former skipper missed out a deserving century but still lifted Bangladesh from a precarious 12-3 to 239 all out in 49.5 overs before they kept Pakistan down to 202-9 in 50 overs at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Earlier in reply to Bangladesh’s 239, Pakistan’s fragile top order failed yet again thus shifting entire burden along with pressure on the middle order.
In the very first over, Fakhar Zaman departed in usual fashion. Mehdy Hassan was the bowler.
Bangaldesh’s pacer Mustafizur Rehman—who plays for Sunrises Hyderabad in IPL—dismissed in-form Babar Azam to add insult to injuries.
Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed—who relocated himself to the fourth position to regain the lost form—gave his wicket cheaply to Mustafiz.
At the end of first powerplay, Pakistan were 37/3.
Pakistan’s crisis man Shoaib Malik arrived on the crease with things looking bleak for green shirts. Malik and Imam adopted vigilant approach and avoided risks.
Without taking any unnecessary risks, the duo took Pakistan to 56/3 at the end of 15 overs.
As things started to look good for green shirts, Rubel dismissed Malik on individual score of 30. Pakistan at that stage were 85/4. Bangladesh s skipper took a stunner.
The move to promote Shadab Khan ahead of Asif Ali does not work as he departed for just 4 off 24 deliveries. S Sarkar picked up his first wicket.
Imamul Haq made another fifty. He achieved this milestone in 31st over of the innings on 74 balls. Pakistan require another 124 runs to win with five wickets remaining.
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On the bowling end, Mustafiz continued to ask question with his off-cutters. And one such question was unanswered by his own teammate when Asif got another life in the 34th over. At this stage of innings, Pakistan require another 112 runs to win.
— Ahmed Maan (@iAhmedMaan) September 26, 2018
Taking calculated risks, Pakistan brought down the equation to 86 runs in 13 overs with just five wickets in hand.
However, Asif fell cheaply as he got stumped in 40th over. At this stage, Pakistan require another 75 runs on 10.5 overs.
Imam s went halfway down the track, and the ball was too far away from him. Deceived by the seam-up arm ball, and Liton Das displayed some excellent glovework. Imam made 83 runs.
Bangladesh [Mushfiqur-99, MIthun-60, Junaid 4-20] set Pakistan 240 runs to win in must-win game of Asia’s premier ODI competition.
Earlier, Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss and opted to bat against Pakistan in the must-win Super Four game in the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Junaid removed Soumya Sarkar for a duck on comeback. Junaid has been bringing him forward with his lengths so far, and he dig into this one in short, and outside off stump. Got it up to shoulder height, and Soumya was in no position to control his pull. Ended up skying it and offering a simple catch to square leg.
In the very next over, Shaheen Afridi clean bowled Mominul Haque. He only made five runs.
Bangladesh continued to wobble as Junaid removed removed Litan Das on six runs.
At the end of first powerplay, Bangladesh were 27/3.
After losing back to back wickets in consecutive overs, crisis man Mushfiqur Rahim opted cautious approach and led the rebuild. At the end of 15 overs, Bangal tigers were 55/3.
Bangladesh brought their collective hundred in 25th over.
When things stabilized in the middle, Bangladesh looked to accelerate and in bid to do so, Mithun fell prey to Hassan Ali. He made 60 useful runs and his innings included four boundaries.
As Bangladesh sensed big total, Sarfraz brought Shaheen Afridi to the attack and the latter did not disappoint his skipper. Mushfiqur fell one short of what would have been a magnificent hundred. Fullish outside off, and again he got it to nip away off the track, against the angle. Looked to drive it with an open face, and only manages an edge through to the keeper.
In the very next over, Bangladesh lost comeback boy Kayes to Shadab Khan. He made just nine runs on 10 balls. Bangladesh amassed collective 200 runs in the 42nd over.
Comeback boy Junaid Khan removed Mehdy Hassan in 46th over, Mehdy made 12 runs and became third wicket of Junaid. At this stage of the innings, Bangladesh were 221/7.
In the 49th over, one run-out and a catch of Mashrafe Mortaza restricted Bangladesh to 239 runs.
The winner of this game will meet title holders India in final in Dubai
