Internet Desk: Bangladesh rode on a brilliant batting performance from Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah to edge out Pakistan in the Asia Cup. The hosts defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets with 5 balls to spare at the Sher e Bangla stadium tonight. Soumya scored a run a ball 48 runs which included 5 fours and one six. While Mahmudullah scored an invaluable 22 runs off 15 balls along with skipper Mortaza who chipped in with 12 off 7 balls to take the team home. The win takes Bangladesh to the final of Asia Cup and will now meet an in form India on Sunday.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi won the toss and elected to bat first . But the decision seemed to have back-fired with Pakistan losing four wickets inside the first nine overs with score at 28/4 (8.2 overs).
For the third consecutive match Al-Amin Hossain provided Bangladesh early breakthrough, removing Khurram Manzoor with his first delivery. The 26-year-old right-arm medium-fast bowler took two more wickets.
The absence of Mustafizur Rahman was hardly felt with Hossain and Taskin Ahmed leading the attack perfectly. Ahmed, who removed dangerous Umar Akmal, produced a rare maiden over and conceded only 14 runs from his four overs.
The pace duo was ably supported by Arafat Sunny, who came in for injured Mustafizur Rahman. The slow left-arm orthodox spinner was expensive but returned with two crucial wickets of Sharjeel Khan and Shoiab Malik (41).
Sarfraz Ahmed played a brilliant unbeaten knock of 58 runs from 42 deliveries. He and Malik stitched a 70-run partnership for the fifth wicket to drag Pakistan to a fighting total.
Pakistan were bundled out for their lowest Twenty20 International total against Bangladesh.
In response, Bangladesh also did not have the perfect starts as Md Irfan sent Tamim Iqbal back in the second over. Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman (14) stayed together for 39 deliveries for a 33-run partnership. Sarkar then combined Mushfiqur Rahim (12) for another handy partnership of 37 runs from 31 balls.
But Pakistan’s strike bowler Mohammad Amir returned for his second spell and removed Sarkar in the 14th over for run-a-ball 48. The 23-year-old opener’s departure allowed Pakistan to come back in the match.
Once again, Amir returned in the 18th over to inflict woes to home team by sending back Shakib (8), who swung his bat in frustration after being bowled by a beauty from the left-arm fact bowler.Captain Mashrafe Mortaza hit back-to-back fours to end the over at 112/5.
Needing 18 runs from 12 deliveries, Afridi brought in Mohammad Sami to the attack. The bowler who is making a comeback into the Pakistan team bowled a dreadful over giving away 15 runs to sink any hopes of a Pakistan win in the last over.
Mahmudullah hit the first delivery of the final over bowled by Anwar Ali for a four over the bowler’s head to register an emphatic five wicket victory and thus booking a place in the final of a major tournament.