by Press Trust of India
Pakistan regained the Asia Cup title after a gap of 12 years as they pulled off a nail-biting two run victory against Bangladesh who came agonisingly close to a historic triumph but ran out of steam in the dying moments here on Thursday.
Pakistan were restricted to a modest 236 for nine but held their nerve to stop the spirited hosts at 234 for eight, shattering Bangladeshi hopes of notching up their maiden Asia Cup title.
It was a case of so near yet so far for the Bangladeshis who reached the final for the first time and very nearly upstaged their fancied opponents in a tournament in which they upset world champions India and Sri Lanka.
The hosts needed nine runs off Aizaz Cheema's tense last over but fell short by two runs as a stunned silence descended on a fully packed Sher-e-Bangla National stadium. Disappointed Bangladeshi players shed tears on the field while fans were equally heart-broken after the nerve-wracking contest.
The in-form Shakib Al Hasan (68) and Tamim Iqbal (60) were the notable performers for Bangladesh but none of the other batsmen could come up with significant scores to tilt the scale in their favour.
Chasing a modest target, Bangladesh made a watchful start to their run chase as openers Tamim Iqbal and Nazimuddin (16) shunned extravagance and looked to keep their wickets intact and jogged to 62 for no loss in the first 15 overs.
With left-handed Iqbal in full flow, Saeed Ajmal was introduced into the attack but Bangladesh still picked up a lucky boundary, this time between the wicketkeeper and the leg slip.
While Tamim flourished, Nazimuddin struggled against the spinners. He survived a leg before decision in the 10th over and could have been out in the 12th over as well when he hit a Aizaz Cheema ball hard but Hammad Azam could not hold on to the catch at the third man area.
Allrounder Shahid Afridi finally made the breakthrough in the 17th over, dismissing Nazimuddin. Trying to play a lofted shot, the opener ended up giving a catch to Younus Khan near long-off.
Six balls later, Ajmal struck another blow as he deceived newcomer Jahurul Islam with his doosra and his outside edge rested in the safe hands of Younus at slip.
In the 24th over, Gul got rid off the well-set Tamim to put Bangladesh under pressure. Looking for a pull, the left-hander ended up miscuing it towards extra cover and Younus didn't make any mistake.
With two new batsmen – Nasir Hossain (28) and Shakib Al Hasan (68) on the field, Pakistan tightened the screw to dry up the runs for the hosts.
The two batsman build up a steady partnership and took Bangladesh to 153 for three in 40 overs. Shakib brought up his fifty with a lofted shot over midwicket for a boundary in the next over.
Needing 77 runs off 54 balls, the left-hander then changed gears and blasted Cheema for the first six of the Bangladeshi innings over deep midwicket.
However, Gul dismissed Nasir Hossain in the next over to derail their chase. Looking for a pull, Nasir ended up giving an easy catch to Misbah-ul-Haq at mid-wicket.
Shakib picked up another boundary with a scoop over short fine leg but Cheema got rid off the batsman in the 44th over when, looking to play a pre-determined shot at the fine leg area, he ended up losing his stumps.
Earlier, the hosts halted Pakistan within a reachable target with the help of some fine bowling.
But some lacklustre bowling by Shahdat Hossain towards the end and useful contributions from Shahid Afridi (32) and wicket-keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed (46 not out) propelled Pakistan to 236 for nine.
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.
Source: NDTV
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