Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Bangladesh smartly reached the first-ever final of the four-nation Micromax Asia Cup Cricket beating Sri Lanka by five wickets with 17 balls remaining in a rain-hit match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday.
The Bengal Tigers will play the day-night final of the Asia Cup against Pakistan on Thursday.
It was the 2nd time that Bangladesh qualified for the final of an ODI tournament after tri-nation cricket involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in 2009.
This win saw Bangladesh and India finished at eight points each but after going through the bye-laws, Tigers send World Champions India packing home as per result of the rules of head to head clash. Bangladesh had beaten India in their group phase match by five wickets.
It was third in their history Bangladesh has beaten Sri Lanka and a maiden win for the Tigers in the Asia Cup. Bangladesh also for the first time ever will be playing in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan who earlier confirmed their place in the final slated to be played on March 22.
Shakib Al Hasan was adjudged the man of the match for his all-round performance.
Bangladesh chasing 212 for win lost their five top batsmen at 135 runs but Nasir Hossain and Mahmudullah Riyad batted brilliantly to stop the rot and carried Bangladesh into the cherished final adding 77 priceless runs for the unbroken sixth wicket stand as Tigers reached 212 for 5 in 37.1 overs.
Bangladesh were in spot of bother as they lost three wickets at 40 runs with Nazimuddin (6), Jahurul (20 and Mushfiqur (1).
Shakib -al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal once came to the rescue with 76 runs for the fourth wicket stand.
However birthday boy Tamim iqbal celebrating his 24th birthday was out for sparkling 59 off 57 balls with nine glittering boundaries.
While Shakib was the pick of the Bangladesh batsman with another belligerent 56 off 46 balls studded with 7 delightful boundaries.
Nasir Hossain with 36 off 61 balls and Riyad with a cameo 32 off 33 balls were unbeaten as Bangladesh reached their destination.
However, there was a hiccup for the Tigers as rain came down pouring just as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 232 runs in 49.5 overs. The sardine packed stand had to wait with their finger crossed as the mopping and drying process was going on to make the ground playable for the second part of the innings.
Nearly after two hour Bangladesh were set a new target of 212 to win from 40 overs as per the D/l Method.
Earlier in the day saw Mushfiqur Rahim’s decision to bat first turned to be blessing in disguise as an inspired performance in the field saw Tigers bowlers made use of Sri Lanka’s miserable run in the tournament to bowled them cheaply.
Shafiul Islam’s injury turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Bangladesh as his replacement, Nazmul Hossain provided a dream start with a devastating burst to reduce, rattled Sri Lanka’s top order with three wickets which included the prize scalps of Mahela Jayawardana (5),
Tilakaratne Dilshan (19) and Kumar Sangakkara (6) and queue were taken by the other bowlers to restrict the Lankans to a mediocre total.
Chamara Kapugedera and Lahiru Thirimanne stopped the rot to score priceless 88 for the fourth wicket stand but what it matter was one of these batsmen needed to bat through the innings to set a competitive target.
But left arm spinner Abdur Razzak accounted for these two batsmen- Chamara for 62 off 92 balls and Thiramanne for 48.
Upul Tharanga was again seen trying to rescue with a cameo 48 off 44 balls a desperate attempt to repair the damage done upfront.
Tharanga lofted Shakib to launch the only six of the innings, in the 45th over. Sachithra Senanayake gave Sri Lanka a late charge to lift them to a target which could still test the hosts.
BBN/SSR/AD-21Mar12-2:00 am (BST)
