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DOHA: Pakistan Shaheens defeated Bangladesh A in a thrilling super over to lift the Asia Cup Rising Stars here at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a stiff 126, Bangladesh crumbled under pressure and ended on a tie with 125-9 at the end of their innings.
Habibur Rahman Sohan and Jishan Alam added 22 for the opening wicket in 2.3 overs. Alam was trapped lbw for six off Arafat Minhas’ bowling, who sparked a collapse with his spin bowling.
Habibur Rahman (26 off 17 balls) was the second to go in the fourth over, followed by Mahidul Islam Ankon, who could not open his account.
Consequently, Bangladesh were reduced 36-3 in 4.2 overs.
Pakistan spinner continued to mount pressure with wickets at regular intervals as the Tigers slumped to 53-7 at the halfway stage of the innings.
However, it was Ripon Mondol’s and SM Meherob’s 37-run stand that took the score near the 100-run mark. Meherob departed after scoring 19 from 21 balls.
With this, the Tigers’ hopes falter not until Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, 16 from 12 balls. The right-hander tonked Shahid Aziz to three sixes to bring down the equation to seven from six balls.
Yet, the match went into the super over with Bangladesh setting Pakistan a seven-run target, which they chased on the fourth ball, courtesy of Saad Massod’s boundary.
A gritty partnership between Rakibul Hasan and SM Meherob revived Bangladesh’s hopes. The pair added 37 valuable runs, taking the score to 88-7 by the 15-over mark.
Earlier, Bangladesh right-arm pacer Ripon Mondol took a three-wicket haul to bundle out Pakistan Shaheens’ innings for a mere total.
Put into bat first, Bangladesh skittled Pakistan for 125 in 20 overs.
Pakistan’s innings started on a poor note as opener Yasir Khan was sent back for a golden duck.
The Green Shirts were pegged back with another wicket in the next over as Mohammad Faiq was cleaned for a second-ball duck, leaving the side reeling at 2-2 in just 1.1 overs.
Following the early hiccups, Ghazi Ghori and Maaz Sadaqat tried to stabilize the innings with a brief 23-run stand, but Ghori’s sluggish nine-run knock ended when he was dismissed by Rakibul Hasan.
The slide continued as Bangladesh tore through the middle-order and reduced them to 49-4 at the end of the seventh over.
Arafat Minhas and Captain Irfan Niazi tried to arrest the slide but could not, and hence lost their wickets. As a result, Pakistan were 75-6 in 14.2 overs. However, Saad Masood played a vital innings that lifted them to a fighting total.
Masood struck three sixes and three fours on his way to 38 from 26 balls.
For Bangladesh, Ripon Mondol picked up three wickets, whereas Rakibul Hasan bagged two.
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