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Bangladesh have slayed the Pakistani ghosts of March in a nerve-racking battle to foray into the final of the Asia Cup with a five-wicket win.
Published : 02 Mar 2016, 06:12 PM
The hosts rode on a spectacular chase-stabilising Soumya Sarkar knock after the bowlers hunted in packs on Wednesday to end the pain of a Mar 22, 2012 loss to the same opposition on the same battleground.
That defeat in the final of the Asia Cup with the live picture of a tearful Shakib Al Hasan and disconsolate Mushfiqur Rahim plunged Bangladesh into despair and sent the Tigers into redemption mode.
But the hopes of healing the wounds turned to more despair in the shape of another surrender to the Pakistanis on Mar 4, 2014.
But the plot changed this time around.
Wednesday's winning runs came off Mahmudullah's bat, triggering a sprint from the ecstatic players who raced to him and went into a jumping-huddle.
In the stands, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cried tears of joy as did many others.
Soumya was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his match-winning knock.
Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman
Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman
Sent in to field first, Bangladesh bowlers had put the Pakistan batsmen to the sword early on before a fine unbeaten Sarfraz Ahmed half-century helped them to a fighting 129 for 7.
In the chase, Soumya played a breezy run-a-ball 48 before Pakistan fought back with quick wickets. But Mahmudullah (22 off 15 balls) and skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (12) held their nerves for the thrilling win in the last over.
Bangladesh needed 18 runs off the last two overs when Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi brought Mohammad Sami back to bowl the penultimate over, which turned the game on its head.
After the first three balls went for three singles, Sami overstepped to concede a free-hit in the next. Mashrafe hoicked it straight to long-off and pushed hard for a double.
The skipper and Mahmudullah ran for three more in the next two deliveries before Sami bowled another no-ball that went for a boundary, reducing the equation to 4 off 7 deliveries.
Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman
Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman
Tamim Iqbal (7) flicked Mohammad Amir for a six to get the chase going and set the pulses of the partisan capacity crowd racing in the first over. But his comeback innings belied the early promise as he perished in the next.
Bangladesh's hero in the win against Sri Lanka, Sabbir Rahman (14) paired for 33 with Soumya but looked edgy before being bowled by Afridi.
Soumya then took charge and initially played sensibly to settle in.
The 23-year old provided impetus with some flashy strokes on either side of the wicket, combining for 37 more with Mushfiqur Rahim (12).
He cracked five boundaries and a superbly timed 96-metre six over deep midwicket to lead the chase. But an Amir special into the blockhole went right through Soumya's defences just when his impending fifty seems set to sail Bangladesh through.
Mushfiqur Rahim then threw his wicket away trying an awkward reverse sweep to be trapped in front.
The quick wickets reignited Pakistan's hopes. Amir darted in a yorker again to take out struggling Shakib Al Hasan (8) who inexplicably walked across looking to play the lap shot to surrender the momentum back.
Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman
Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman
Amir, the most potent danger for the hosts, grabbed 2 for 26.
Earlier, a fine unbeaten Sarfraz Ahmed half-century had helped Pakistan to a fighting 129 for 7.
Bangladesh bowlers put the Pakistan batsmen to the sword early on.
Al-Amin Hossain and Taskin Ahmed produced extra bounce from the pitch early on as Bangladesh picked up three early wickets to put Pakistan under pressure.
Al-Amin struck with his first ball to take out Khurram Manzoor (1) with a bouncer before Sharjeel Khan (10) slogged across the line to an Arafat Sunny delivery in his first over and lost the middle stump.
Pakistan began imploding when Umar Akmal (4) tried to hit Taskin out of the ground but skied a catch to Shakib. They were four wickets down and had not even put 30 on the board.
Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman
Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman
But the Pakistanis recovered through a superb partnership between Sarfraz (58) and Shoaib Malik (41).
Malik batted smartly while Sarfraz kept his calm as they threatened to take the game away from Bangladesh with a 70-run stand.
The duo mixed aggression with caution as Mashrafe kept changing his attack from both ends.
With the stage set for a late onslaught, Malik holed out at deep square leg before Al-Amin removed Afridi for a duck.
Sarfaraz then reached his second Twenty20 International half-century off 40 balls with five boundaries and two sixes.
Bangladesh bowled a staggering 57 dot balls in total. Taskin bowled 16 of those.
Al-Amin was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers, returning 3 for 25 in 4 overs. Sunny bagged two wickets while Taskin and Mashrafe chipped in with a wicket each.
Brief scores:
Pakistan: 129/7 in 20 overs (Manzoor 1, Sharjeel 10, Hafeez 2, Sarfaraz 58, Akmal 4, Malik 41, Afridi 0, Anwar 13; Al-Amin 3/25, Arafat 2/35, Taskin 1/14, Mashraef 1/29)
Bangladesh: 131/5 in 19.1 overs (Tamim 7, Soumya 48, Mushfiq 12, Shakib 8, Mahmudullah 22*, Mashrafe 12*; Amir 2/26, Malik 1/3, Afridi 1/20, Irfan 1/23)
Man-of-the-Match: Soumya Sarkar (Bangladesh)
Points Table:
Team | Match | Win | Loss | Points | NRR |
India | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | +1.467 |
Bangladesh | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | +0.458 |
Sri Lanka | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.292 |
Pakistan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.464 |
UAE | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -1.266 |
