Suspense over; Pakistan become Asian Champions

 

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 to go past the target here today.

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 and yet so far 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.

DHAKA: Pakistan recorded a dramatic two-run victory over Bangladesh in a sensational final to win the Asia Cup one-day tournament for second time here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Thursday.

Earlier, they had become the Asia Cup champions in 2000.

It was looking that Bangladesh, playing the final for the first time in Asia Cup history, would win the title. They played extremely well – first restricting Pakistan to 236-9 in 50 overs with their accurate bowling and alert fielding and then batted with determination to reach very close to the winning target but lost the match just three runs short.

Chasing 237, the hosts needing nine runs in the last over, finished at 234-8 in 50 overs.

Pakistan won its second Asia Cup cricket title when it beat Bangladesh by two runs in a thrilling final on Thursday.
In a match which riveted fans to the final ball, Pakistan tallied 236-9 in its 50 overs, then stalled Bangladesh on 234-8 in a raucous Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
In a dramatic final over, Bangladesh needed 9 to win. Pakistan messed up when it conceded three runs off the third-to-last ball with a wayward throw and an overthrow. That left 4 to win off 2 balls.
But then Abdur Razzak played a slower ball off fast bowler Aizaz Cheema onto his stumps, stranding the in-form Mahmadullah at the non-striker's end. New batsman Shahadat Hossain had to hit four runs off the last ball to give Bangladesh its maiden Asia Cup title, but he managed a yorker on leg stump with only a leg bye, causing the Pakistanis to jump around in joy.
Their only other triumph in the 28-year Asia Cup was in 2000, also on Bangladesh soil.


Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/world/pakistan-wins-asia-cup-by-runs/article_4c3aea76-d68b-56ce-88bd-0a8e3beb1794.html#ixzz1psa4SyxZ

How crucial was that performance from Sarfraz Ahmed? That's made the difference, and well done to Cheema for keeping his nerve in that final over. Quiet, silent, sombre faces in the Bangladesh dressing room but this has been some tournament for them. Just short by three runs in the end, they walk out to shake hands with the Pakistan team. Will this mark the turning point for Bangladesh in all cricket? They have won the respect of the cricketing world, beating India and Sri Lanka on their way here and giving Pakistan a run for their money twice. Tears in the eyes of Mushfiqur Rahim, the captain and there's Shakib consoling him. Pakistan have won this tournament for the second time.

An excellent tournament this, close matches for the most part and most importantly, an excellent reception from a cricket-mad Bangladeshi crowd. The Pakistan spinners did a splendid job to restrict the hosts, and the wickets of Shakib and Mushfiqur in fairly quick succession giving their team the edge towards the end. The game was very much on till the end; Mashrafe struck some good blows, Razzak tried hard but Pakistan won out the battle of nerves in the end.

The tears are still rolling down the cheeks of the Bangladeshi players, and the fans. Jamshaid says this: "It really makes me sad to watch mushfiq cry but he has no reason to cry, he should look at the bigger picture bangladesh have finally evolved into an amazing and formidable team that are capable of defeating bigger teams." The other key moments were the loss of Tamim and Jahrul in quick succession, and it took a while for Nasir to get going. The spinners did superbly at those stages. It's taking a while for everyone to get themselves under some control, we'll get you the presentation details in just a bit.

Tamim Iqbal gets an award for four fifties on the trot for the man, big cheers from the crowd.

Pakistan cricket fans miss India revenge   

Still disappointed at missing a final against archrival India, Pakistan fans had nothing but praise for Bangladesh's performance in a thrilling Asia Cup cricket final. 

While most still wished the victory came against India, they were filled with admiration for theBangladesh team that came agonizingly close to winning the title. 

Fast bowler Aizaz Cheema conceded six runs in a tense last over as Bangladesh fell just three runs short of its 237-run target, finishing at 234-8. 

India defeated Pakistan by six wickets in a high-scoring league match, but Bangladesh qualified for the final after beating both India and Sri Lanka. 

"I was praying for an India-Pakistan rematch, but Bangladesh played like a real contender for the title," said Juzer Mustafa, a university student. "I missed India a lot in the final because it would have given us a chance to beat the current world champions." 

Despite India's absence from the final, people in Pakistan -- especially youngsters -- had made special arrangements to watch the final on big screens. 

The fans were tense when Bangladesh made a late charge through Mashrafe Mortaza and Mamudullah as the target was reduced to nine runs in the last over. 

The moment Cheema bowled the last delivery, the silence broke into jubilation with fans waving national flags while riding their motorbikes and cars on the main streets of the cities. 

"Until the last over we were thinking Bangladesh can win the match, but thanks God Pakistan won," said Sonia Abbasi, a student who came to watch the match with her friends on a giant screen in a food street in Karachi. 

The Bangladesh players couldn't hide their emotions after losing a tense final as captainMushfiqur Rahim and former skipper Shakibul Hasan were seen to burst into tears on the field during the trophy presentation. 

Pakistan last won the Asia Cup in Bangladesh 12 years ago -- the same year when Bangladesh was awarded Test status. 

Bangladesh was never rated close to the other three Asian teams -- India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka -- before this year's tournament. But Bangladesh proved that it won't be just making up the numbers in the tournament after fighting back from an opening 21-run loss to Pakistan. 

"Bangladesh deserved to win yesterday because they played really well -- not only in the final but also against India and Sri Lanka in the league matches," said Naseer Ahmad, computer operator. 

"I would have enjoyed more had we defeated India in the final." 

"I don't like Pakistan losing to India, and after they defeated us in the league match, I had hoped we would take revenge from them in the final."