Daily Times

DUBAI: India defeated Bangladesh by three wickets in a thrilling final to lift the Asia Cup at Dubai International Stadium here on Friday evening. Chasing a modest target of 223, India raced home on the last ball of their innings for the loss of seven wickets. Rohit Sharma (48), Dinest Karthik (37) and MS Dhoni (36) were main run-getters for the winners. The match turned nail-biter as the Bangladesh were able to get breakthrough by taking back-to-back wickets in the middle of the game. Kedar Jadhav (23) and Kuldeep Yadav (5), who remained undefeated, helped India achieve the victory target when India lost seven wickets giving a hope to the Tigers.

Previously, Bangladesh have beaten India in only five of 34 one-day internationals but one of them came in the 2012 Asia Cup on their way to the final when they lost to Pakistan by two runs. India thrashed Bangladesh in the first Super Four game by seven wickets in Dubai in the current edition. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja grabbed four wickets while pacemen Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshawar Kumar took three wickets apiece to bundle Bangladesh out for a paltry 173.

Liton Das hammer ton as Bangladesh reach 222: Earlier, opener Liton Das hit a maiden century but Bangladesh failed to post a challenging target for India as they were bowled out for 222. Das held the innings together during his 117-ball 121 which featured a dozen boundaries and two sixes but Bangladesh, who were put into bat, were all out in 48.3 overs despite a solid opening stand of 120 with Mehidy Hasan. Hasan was promoted to open the innings as the pair attacked India´s pace-cum spin India attack. But once Hasan was caught off Jadhav in the 21st over the innings collapsed with Bangladesh losing four more wickets by the time the score reached 151.

Hasan hit three boundaries in his 59-ball 32 while Soumya Sarkar made a 45-ball 33 with a boundary and a six. Former captain Mushfiqur Rahim, who scored 144 and 99 earlier in the tournament, also hold out off Jadhav who finished with 2-41. Rahim made just five. Bangladesh’s cause was not helped by three run-outs while left-arm spinner Kuldeep returned with the best figures of 3-45. Bangladesh upset Pakistan by 37 runs in the last Super Four match in Abu Dhabi to book a place in the final for just the second time. Without their established opener Tamim (fractured wrist) – injured after the first game – and world class all-rounder Shakib (fractured finger), the Tigers pinned their hopes on younger players.

Published in Daily Times, September 29^th 2018.