Pakistan won by 11 runs after stumbling to 135-8 in the virtual semi-final against Bangladesh in their men’s Asia Cup Super Four fixture at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
With that win, the Green Shirts bookëd their final date with archrivals India for the first time in the 17th iteration of the Asia Cup on Sunday.
Speaking at the post-match ceremony, player-of-the-match Shaheen Afridi said: “I attacked up-front as the team needed an early breakthrough — the three overs in the powerplay made all the difference.”
He dedicated his award to his wife and son.
The left-arm pacer scored a vital 19 of 13 balls and got 3-17 with the ball, striking in his signature manner in the very first over of the innings yet again.
Skipper Salman Ali Agha said, “If we can win these kinds of games, then we must be a special team.”
He commended Mohammad Haris’s crucial 31 runs down the order, terming him a “special player”.
On a pitch that spun prodigiously, Pakistan were staring down the barrel at 49-5 in the 11th over before Shaheen and Haris injected some momentum into the innings.
Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf added some crucial runs as Bangladesh were horrendous in the field — dropping multiple chances, including POTM Shaheen.
Pakistan’s bowling effort was a combined effort, coupled with a frantic head coach heading up and down the dressing room stairs at crucial intervals.
In the end, the Tigers could not counter the quality of the Pakistani pace attack as well as the prodigious spin on offer.
Live coverage ends:
Bangladesh’s chase
Over 20 — Bangladesh – 124-9
19.1: Haris returns with venom. Mustafizur has no idea where that pacy delivery went!
Mustafizur faces a Haris ripsnorter. — AFP
Coach Hesson watches on intently.
19.4: Rishad smacks Haris for six! Are we in for a surprise?!
Wasim bhai with a well done bhai in the commentary box
Pakistan are through to the final!
Haris smacked a four and six in the final over, but that wasn’t enough for Bangladesh as Pakistan book their final date with archrivals India for the first time in the 17 editions of the Asia Cup.
Over 19 — Bangladesh – 113-9
Faheem to bowl the penultimate over.
A dejected Litton Das looks on at proceedings in despair.
18.5: That would have been it for the Tigers, but Nawaz drops a dolly at long-on!
Two boundaries and a dropped catch, Faheem bowls a nervy over for Pakistan at a time when they are steps away from the finish line.
Over 18 — Bangladesh – 103-9
Haris is down after a good start.
Looks like he’s continuing his over after a stop in play. This would be a big blow if there were an injury to the express pacer.
17.2: Haris strikes on his first ball back as he cleans up Tanzim!
17.3: Taskin has no idea where that slower one by Haris ended up and somehow the ball goes past the boundary!
Haris celebrates after a wicket. — ACC
17.4: Haris makes a mess of Taskin’s stumps!
Haris celebrates after bowling Taskin. — ACC
The longest over of the match — thanks to Haris’ injury concern — sees Bangladesh ripped apart by the right-armer’s express pace.
Over 17 — Bangladesh – 97-7
Shaheen returns as Pakistan coach, Mike Hesson is out on the steps of the dressing room in anticipation.
And the left-arm pacer does not disappoint him as he gets rid of Shamim.
Tanzim cracks Shaheen through the covers for four, but Shaheen responds with dangerman Shamim’s wicket as Pakistan inch closer to a famous win.
Overheard in the newsroom: Remember the name; Shaheen Shah Afridi!
Over 16 — Bangladesh – 90-6
Five off that Saim over.
Saim completes his spell, conceding 16 across four overs as Shamim and Tanzim settle for five runs in the over.
Over 15 — Bangladesh – 85-6
Abrar returns.
A big over for Bangladesh against the run of play, and Shamim quietly prepares himself to go for the last-ditch attempt to save his team.
Over 14 — Bangladesh – 73-6
13.5: Saim strikes by bowling wide, and the Bangladeshi skipper is gone!
The Tigers are in all sorts of trouble as Pakistan are in a strong position.
Over 13 — Bangladesh – 68-5
Nawaz continues to impress, conceding only four as the required run-rate exceeds nine per over.
Over 12 — Bangladesh – 64-5
The man with the golden arm strikes again!
Saim returns to take another for Pakistan as Nasum departs to put Bangladesh under big pressure.
Over 11 — Bangladesh – 62-4
10.2: Shamim is saved by a whisker as the review shows that the ball was hitting but impact was umpire’s call.
Nawaz keeps the Bangladesh batters guessing with the ball doing the talking on a tricky surface.
Mid-innings analysis: Pakistan’s bowlers have delivered so far, and they’re in a position they would’ve happily accepted after posting a low target. From Shaheen to Haris to Nawaz, they have been spot on. The required rate is rising for Bangladesh and Pakistan have a semblance of a grip on the match that they shouldn’t relinquish.
Over 10 — Bangladesh – 58-4
9.4: Shamim sweeps Abrar for a six over square-leg!
Shamim Hossain counterattacks with a sweep for six off Abrar as Bangladesh look to push Pakistan off their backs.
Over 9 — Bangladesh – 49-4
Saim bowls to Nurul.
Saim comes into bowl as Pakistan look to make full use of the conditions at play and concedes only five in his first over.
Over 8 — Bangladesh – 44-4
Mohammad Nawaz into the attack!
7.6: Nawaz strikes! Bangladesh are four down as Mahedi tries to find out if the cover fielder can catch or not?!
Nawaz shifts the match further into Pakistan’s favour as the ball is spinning miles!
Over 7 — Bangladesh – 38-3
6.2: Abrar into the attack, and Nurul had no idea which way that one was turning!
Abrar comes into the attack and delivers a decent over as the wicket shows encouraging signs for the spinners.
Over 6 — Bangladesh – 36-3
Haris strikes to remove the dangerous-looking Saif!
The crowd is tilted in Bangladesh’s favour, and despite that, the noise in the ground goes through the roof!
Haris celebrates after dismissing Saif. — ACC
Haris gets the big one in Saif as Pakistan make huge inroads in a match which Bangladesh were expected to take away with ease. An edge flies off for six, but a confidence-boosting over for Salman and co.
Over 5 — Bangladesh – 29-2
4.1: All sorts of drama to start the over! Pakistan and Bangladesh having a competition of who can miss the most chances in the field!
Saim with a great diving stop, and Saif was gone for all money, had he hit!
Shaheen strikes again!
Saim takes a catch to dismiss Towhid. — ACC
Over 4 — Bangladesh – 23-1
Haris Rauf’s over has been expensive so far!
3.6: Haris finally beats Saif, and Pakistan have taken a review.
Saif milks Haris’s pace in the powerplay with a couple of solid shots for a six and four before Pakistan lose a review hoping the opener nicked one to the wicket-keeper.
Over 3 — Bangladesh – 12-1
Shaheen delivers another superb over as Bangladesh show restraint against Pakistan’s man in form.
Over 2 — Bangladesh 9-1
Faheem starts off with an expensive over.
Saif Hasan reminds Pakistan that they have a giant to deal with if they are to create any chances for themselves in this match. The right-hander creams Faheem for Bangladesh’s first six in Faheem’s over.
Over 1 — Bangladesh 1-1
Shaheen strikes!
0.5: Yet another first over wicket for Shaheen as Parvez Hossain Emon departs while trying to hit one over deep-backwards square leg.
What a start for Pakistan! Shaheen gets a wicket in the first over as Nawaz takes a good catch to send Parvez back to the pavilion.
Mid-innings analysis: Pakistan have a sub-par total on the board, and it makes you wonder why Salman was happy at losing the toss. Did the error occur in reading the pitch, or did the batters not apply themselves enough? To stay in the tournament, the onus is on the bowlers to find some inspiration.
Over 20 — Pakistan – 135-8
Can the Rana get Pakistan to any semblance of a good total?
19.2: He starts off with a boundary to third-man!
Faheem refuses a single as Haris looks on from the other end.
Over 19 — Pakistan – 124-8
18.1: Nawaz deposits Taskin into the stands!
18.2: A slower one dismisses Nawaz as Bangladesh finally hang on to one!
The big-hitting Haris Rauf makes his way to the crease. Can he help the Green Shirts with a few lusty blows?
Nawaz also departs, trying to go for two sixes in a row off Taskin, but falling to a brilliant catch by Parvaiz Hussain Emon in the deep on the second attempt as 150 becomes almost impossible for Pakistan.
Over 18 — Pakistan – 114-7
17.1: Mahedi is smashed over the sight screen by Nawaz for a huge straight six!
