Pakistan Pip Bangladesh To Win The Opening Game Of Asia Cup

Bangladesh lost last 5 wickets for only 17 runs, in a match they should have comfortably won, to hand Pakistan a victory by 21 runs in the opening match of the Asia 2012.

Chasing 263, Bangladesh looked in a precarious position at 135 for 5, inspite of Tamim Iqbal’s 64. But Shakib Al Hasan and Nasir Hossain had other plans. Batting with purpose and maturity, Shakib scored freely taking Bangladesh decisively towards the target. Young Nasir was equal to task, matching Shakib stroke for stroke. The partnership ballooned to 89 runs in 14.5 overs, and looked capable of taking Bangladesh to the target. Requiring 39 off 40 balls, very few would have put their money on Pakistan, but Umar Gul had other plans. He removed Nasir in the 44^th over, who trying to turn the ball off his pads, was beaten for pace. In the next over Saeed Ajmal had the measure of Abdur Razzak and Mashrafe Mortaza. Gul then disturbed Safiul Islam’s timbre with a brilliant yorker. Watching this collapse from the other end, now with only one wicket left, Shakib needed to take urgent action. Gul though had the last laugh when he had Shakib playing on, thus giving Pakistan a victory.

Earlier, Pakistan had a collapse of their own, when they went from 135 for 0 to 198 for 7 before Gul took the score to competitive 262, with a career best innings of 39. Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed scored fifties at the top, 89 and 54, respectively.