Mushfiqur Rahim's 99 lifted Bangladesh to 239
It could have been very different for Bangladesh. Coming into the game without Shakib Al Hasan, who was laid up by his recurrent finger injury, and then losing their top three batsmen for only 12 runs, Bangladesh looked set for another meltdown until Mushfiqur Rahim's superb 99 proved otherwise. And just when they looked set for an above-par total, Mushfiqur's wicket triggered a collapse that saw Bangladesh lose their last five wickets for 42 runs.
In a redux of Bangladesh's rearguard against Sri Lanka, hence proving that it wasn't after all a fluke, Rahim put on 144 in partnership with Mohammad Mithun for the fourth wicket - Bangladesh's highest fourth-wicket stand against Pakistan - helping Bangladesh set Pakistan a 240-run target in the virtual semifinal at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (September 26).
Pakistan dropped Mohammed Amir for the second time in the 2018 Asia Cup, bringing in Junaid Khan this time - a decision that paid immediate dividends for a team that had hitherto picked only one wicket during powerplays this edition. Junaid razed through the openers, outwitting Soumya Sarkar with a short ball and then bowling Liton Das with an absolute peach from round the wicket. The two wickets sandwiched Mominul Haque's dismissal by Shaheen Afridi, off what was the delivery of the match so far - seaming in from over the wicket to breach through the left-hander's bat-pad gap.
That reaffirming stand between Rahim and Mithun then flourished, the duo keeping up well with Pakistan spinners bowling quick on a well-grassed wicket. First-change Hasan Ali was equally complicit in Pakistan's plight, failing to keep up the pressure built by the opening bowlers until he struck with Mithun's wicket with a well-deceived short ball that flew back to him off a top-edge.
Shadab Khan's near immediate wicket of Imrul Kayes meant that Mushfiqur, then on 80, had to bat right through for Bangladesh to bat Pakistan out of the match. Mushfiqur fell on 99 though, edging Shaheen Afridi to the wicketkeeper. Junaid Khan razed through Mehidy Hasan and Mahmudullah in successive overs, ending with 4 for 19 in the nine overs he bowled.
Rubel Hossain's wicket by Hasan Ali, who wrapped up the innings with Mashrafe Mortaza's wicket, meant Bangladesh were shot out on 239, a few tens less than they would have liked.
Brief scores: Bangladesh (Mushfiqur Rahim 99, Mohammad Mithun 60; Junaid Khan 4-19) vs Pakistan.
0 comments: