Asia Cup: Bangladesh Beat Pakistan By 37 Runs, Play India In Final

In the last Super Four match of the 2018 Asia Cup, Bangladesh opted to bat first against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Bangladesh played without injured Shakib Al Hasan. His place was by Mominul Haque. At the toss, Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said that, "Sarkar comes back into the side. We have quite a few changes. Shanto is not playing, Rubel is back into the side. Big loss is that Shakib is not playing as he fractured his finger, hence Mominul comes in."

Pakistan made one change, Junaid Khan coming in for Mohammad Amir.

Updates:

Curtains for Pakistan. Bangladesh set-up a repeat of 2016 final against India. Mustafizur Rahman bowling the last over.

Bangladesh won by 37 runs, their fourth successive win over Pakistan. They will play defending champions in the final on Friday.

Chasing a target of 240, Pakistan could manage only 202/9 despite Imam-ul-Haq's 83.

Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim scored 99 to save Bangladesh from 12/3. The wicketkeeper-batsman added 144 runs for the fourth wicket with Mohammad Mithun (60).

Bangladesh have taken complete control of the match with Mustafizur Rahman taking the wicket of Hasan Ali in the 44th over, caught at mid on by skipper Mashrafe Mortaza.

Wicket: Hasan Ali c Mortaza b Mustafizur 8(11) [4s-1]

After 45 overs, Pakistan are 186/8, still needing 54 balls from 30 balls.

Mehidy Hasan got the breakthrough, removing Asif Ali thanks to a smooth stumping by Liton Das. Ali was involved in a 71-run fifth-wicket stand with Imam-ul-Haq.

Wicket: Asif Ali st Liton Das b Mehidy Hasan 31(47)

In the next over, Mahumdulah foxed Imam-ul-Haq to come down, and an easy stumping followed.

Wicket: Imam-ul-Haq st Liton Das b Mahmudullah 83(105)

Pakistan are in big trouble. Lost two wickets for three runs in 10 balls. After 41 overs, Pakistan are 169/7, still needing 71 more from 54 balls.

Imam-ul-Haq is still there, but Pakistan are in trouble. He is two runs away from a deserving fifty, but Pakistan will need a bigger innings from the opener. After 30 overs, they are 108/5, still another 132 runs away from a final spot.

Some fielding from Bangladesh captain. Plucking one out thin air to dismiss Shoaib Malik. Catch taken at midwicket. Wicket to Rubel Hossain. It happened off the first ball of 21st over. Pakistan 87/4 at the end of the over.

Wicket: Shoaib Malik c Mashrafe Mortaza b Rubel Hossain 30(51)

In 20 overs, Pakistan have scored 85 runs for the loss of three wickets. Imam-ul-Haq (39) and Shoaib Malik (30) have weathered the Bangla storm with a 67-run stand. Pakistan still need another 155 runs from 30 overs.

Imam-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik are in the process of rebuilding the Pakistan innings from that calamitous start. They have added 31 runs from 57 balls. After 13 overs, they are 49/3, still needing 191 runs.

A horrendous start to the chase for Pakistan. 25/3 after seven overs, with Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and Sarfraz Ahmed gone. Mustafizur Rahman claimed the wickets of Azam and Ahmed, while Hasan tookZaman's.

Pakistan bowled Bangladesh out 239 all out with Junaid Khan taking four wickets. For Bangladesh, Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored with 99 runs. Mohammad Mithun contributed with 60 runs.

Pakistan hit back with two wickets, those of Mithun (60) and Kayes (9), with Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan claiming the wickets respectively. Mithun and Rahim stitched a 144-run stand. After the end of 37th over, Bangladesh were 169/5 with Rahim and Mahmudullah unbeaten on 81 and 1 respectively.

Bangladesh have added 126 runs for the fourth-wicket stand as Mushfiqur Rahim (68) and Mohammad Mithun (53) continued to build the innings. Bangladesh were 138/3 after 30 overs.

Hundred-run unbeaten stand by Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mithun have resurrectedBagnladesh innings. Rahim hit his 30th ODI fifty. He was on 57 from 72 balls, while Mithun was on 44 from 59 balls at the end of 26th over. Bangladesh were 116/3 at the end of 26th over.

Mercurial Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mithun have steadied the Bangladesh innings. They have added 22 runs for the fourth wicket. Bangladesh are 48/3 after 14 overs.

Early wickets for Pakistan as Junaid Khan and Shaheen Afridi removed Soumya Sarkar – caught at square leg by Fakhar Zaman and Mominul Haque – bowled. Bangla Tigers are tottering at 12/2 after 35 overs.

Playing XIs:

Bangladesh: Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mominul Haque, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Mehidy Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (c&wk), Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Afridi