B’desh beat Pak, face India in final

ABUDHABI: Batting has been hard work on slow pitches in the Asia Cup and oppressive heat has made life difficult for those ready to grind it.

It was no different for seasoned Bangladesh batsman, Mushfiqur Rahim, who also suffered the heartbreak of being dismissed on 99.

However, the former skipper’s innings proved invaluable as Bangladesh upstaged Pakistan by 37 runs in the final Super Four clash on Wednesday, a virtual semi-final, to seal a place against India in Friday’s final.

Mushfiqur (99 – 116b, 9x4) struggled with cramp but guided Bangladesh to a challenging 239 all out in 48.5 overs.

In reply, Pakistan in reply finished on 202/9 as hopes of a third India-pakistan clash in the tournament were dashed.

Only twice in this edition has 200-plus totals been chased successfully, one by India, and the other by Pakistan against Afghanistan. Once Shoaib Malik, hero of that win, fell for 30, it made things difficult.

Opener Imam-ul Haq (83 – 105 b) played a cautious innings, but once he was stumped charging out to Mahmudullah’s spin in the 41st over, Bangladesh knew the battle was won.

Pakistan’s struggling opener Fakhar Zaman fell for one run and Mustafiqur Rahman’s twin strikes to remove opener Babar Azam and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed cheaply reduced Pakistan to 18/3 in the fourth over. Imam and Asif Ali (31) put on a stand, but both were stumped under pressure to score quickly.

Mushfiqur too came in to bat with Bangladesh 12/2. He stayed put till the 42nd over.

He deserved the century, but rookie left-arm paceman Shaheen Afridi had him caught behind. Mohammad Mithun (60 - 84b, 4x4) and Mahmudullah (25 - 31b) ensured the fighting total to give Bangladesh bowlers enough to keep the misfiring Pakistan batting line-up down.

Mustafizur Rahman, once again looking in fine shape, ended with 4/43 though Afridi ensured Pakistan were not bowled out.