Pakistan take the Asia Cup Trophy in Dhaka after a nail-biting 2 run victory over Bangladesh - Read our match report here

Teams:


Bangladesh

Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Nazimuddin, 3 Jahurul Islam, 4 Nasir Hossain, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza, 9 Abdur Razzak, 10 Nazmul Hossain, 11 Shahadat Hossain

Pakistan

Pakistan: 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Nasir Jamshed, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Umar Akmal, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Hammad Azam, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Aizaz Cheema


Pakistan Innings

Wahab Riaz was the name missing from the Pakistani lineup today - his previous game deemed a failure. He was replaced by Sarfraz with the rest of the squad as it was. Bangladesh continued with their winning combo and won the toss and decided to field.

Both Pakistani openers began the innings in circumspect manner but it was in the 4th over that Nasir Jamshed lost his wicket to Murtaza for 9. Younis Khan walked in next and was adjudged lbw for 1. Bangladeshi and Pakistani supporters, sensed a mini collapse as out walked the master of crisis for Pakistan - Captain Misbah-ul-haq. Hafeez and Misbah were naturally cautious following the early wickets, but Hafeez began to open up as the 1st powerplay came to an end, taking 10 runs off a wayward Nazmul Hossain over, taking Pakistan to 43-2 after 10.

Bangladesh continued to keep things tight, allowing just 8 runs off the next 4 overs. The unrelentless pressure took its toll as Misbah went for a risky single, but a moments hesitation and a direct hit from Nasir Hossain were enough to catch him short of his ground. At 55-3, Pakistan were in serious need of a partnership.

The new batsman, Umar Akmal, and Hafeez were unable to break the shackles, as the Bangladeshi bowlers and fielders gave nothing away. After just 11 runs from the next 5 overs, Hafeez's frustration got the better of him and he drilled the ball hard but straight to the fielder at mid-on. Hammad Azam, promoted ahead of Afridi, took advantage of an early free hit, crashing the ball over extra cover for the first six of the innings. At the halfway point in the innings however, Bangladesh were well on top at 84-4.

Pakistan's two youngsters then began to show some fight, running hard between the wickets and taking advantage of the loose deliveries. A 50 partnership was brought up in good time, but just as Pakistan seemed set to push on, Hammad top edged a pull to mid-wicket, before Umar Akmal was given out caught behind down the leg side. Afridi was joined by Sarfraz, and with the last recognised pair at the crease at 133-6, something special was required to boost Pakistan to a competitive total.

An aggressive cameo from Afridi, including 4 fours and a six, raised hopes of a comeback, but he succumbed trying to smash a full toss out of the ground. A couple of boundaries from Sarfraz pushed Pakistan past 200, but Gul and Ajmal both fell in quick succession to keep the batting side on the back foot. Cheema managed to stay with Sarfraz till the end, and a 19 run final over nudged Pakistan to 236 off their 50. They would be happy with that score after the way the innings had gone, especially as they defended a similar score against Bangladesh earlier in the competition. Would that final over cost Bangladesh a historic victory?


Fall of Wickets


1-16 (Nasir Jamshed, 4.2 ov),
2-19 (Younis Khan, 5.2 ov),
3-55 (Misbah, 14.5 ov),
4-70 (Hafeez, 21.2 ov),
5-129 (Hammad, 33.3 ov),
6-133 (Akmal, 34.5 ov),
7-178 (Shahid Afridi, 41.3 ov),
8-199 (Umar Gul, 44.3 ov),
9-206 (Saeed Ajmal, 45.6 ov)

Bangladesh Innings

Tamim Iqbal and Nazimuddin needed to give Bangladesh a solid start to ease the nerves in the dressing room. Misbah began with Hafeez hoping his bowler could again provide an early breakthrough, but the two openers batted carefully to negate his threat. From the other end however, Tamim took a liking to Gul, taking 18 off his first 3 overs to give the home side a steady start. Nazimuddin had two bits of fortune when he survived a close lbw shout from Ajmal, before Hammad dropped a tough chance at 3rd man. Tamim also rode his luck, scoring a couple of streaky boundaries, but Afridi provided the breakthrough as Nazimuddin looked to up his scoring rate, but was well caught by a diving Younis Khan. At 68-1 though, Bangladesh will have been quietly confident.

That became 68-2 in the next over, Jaharul failing to pick a perfect Ajmal doosra, and Bangladesh were suddenly under pressure. Tamim continued to attack Gul, but the fast bowler got his revenge when Tamim mistimed a pull shot, and Younis was on hand to take his third catch of the innings. At the halfway stage, Bangladesh were 86-3, and it was all up to Shakib and Nasir Hossain to bail their side out of trouble once again.

Some tight overs from Afridi and Hafeez pushed the required run rate above 7, but the two batsmen hit back against the bowling of Cheema and Hammad. The 50 partnership was brought up prior to the batting powerplay, and at that stage Bangladesh required 105 at exactly 7 an over. Hafeez and Ajmal bowled fantastically during the powerplay, conceding just 21 runs, but crucially for Bangladesh, Shakib and Nasir were still at the crease at the end of it. 84 were required off the last 10, and the question was if this Bangladesh side would crumble under the pressure of a run chase in a final.

Shakib brought up his half century with a loft over mid-wicket, before bringing the crowd to its feet by launching Cheema into the stands. Emotions went from ecstacy to agony in the next over however, as Nasir miscued a pull straight to mid-wicket off Gul. This brought India's nemesis, Mushfiqur Rahim, to the crease, and some improvisation from Shakib left Bangladesh requiring an achievable 61 off the last 7 overs. Shakib's improvisation failed in the next over however, as he missed a paddle sweep off Cheema and his leg stump was pegged back. Another fantastic performance by Shakib had come to an end, and it was up to Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur to see Bangladesh home.

Ajmal went for 9 off his next over leaving the batting side needing 47 from 30, but Cheema then struck a crucial blow as Mushfiqur holed out to the fielder at deep square leg. 39 off the last 4 was still achievable though, especially after Mahmudullah struck the first ball of the 47th over powerfully through the covers for 4. The hard hitting Mashrafe Mortaza then struck two more boundaries as Gul failed to find the right length. 25 were required off 18 and it was anyone's game.

Six runs off the first 3 balls of Ajmal's next over seemed to have edged the batting side ahead, but Mortaza attempted a fine paddle sweep next ball and could only find the fielder. Ajmal finished a magnificent spell with two more dot balls, leaving Bangladesh needing 19 off the last 2. Gul started well but a no-ball off his 3rd ball gave Bangladesh a chance, but the free hit only went for 2. Some good bowling and fantastic running meant that the Asia Cup final went down to the last over. 9 runs to win, and Aizaz Cheema to bowl.

Singles were taken from the first 2 balls before a brave slower ball was missed by the batsman. With 7 needed off 3, Pakistan may have edged ahead. 3 runs off the next ball after some poor fielding increased the tension to unbearable levels, but Cheema then bowled Abdur Razzak leaving Bangladesh needing a boundary off the last ball. The new batsman Shahadat only managed a leg bye though, and Pakistan sealed the victory.


Fall of Wickets

1-68 (Nazimuddin, 17.5 ov),
2-68 (Jaharul, 18.3 ov),
3-81, Tamim, 23.1 ov),
4-170 (Nasir, 42.3 ov),
5-179 (Shakib, 43.4 ov),
6-190, Mushfiqur, 45.1 ov),
7-218 (Mortaza, 47.4 ov),
8-233 (Razzak, 49.5 ov),


Summary

A gripping final resulted in Pakistan sneaking home to win their second Asia Cup title. The home side fought hard but the death bowlers picked up wickets at crucial moments to end Bangladesh's remarkable performance in the tournament. They were more than competitive in every game they played, and will certainly regret the final over of Pakistan's innings which went for 19. Credit goes to Sarfraz, Afridi, Umar Akmal and Hammad for pushing Pakistan to a competitive total, and then the bowlers kept their nerve against some determined batting. Congratulations to Pakistan for a well deserved win.

What had initially been considered a pointless competition was brought to life thanks to Bangladesh. They will be disappointed not to have won, but can certainly be proud of their efforts. Future editions of this tournament are likely to be highly competitive, and Bangladesh will hope they can push on and progress up the ICC rankings.