The Asia Cup will back to its old 50-over format when the 16th edition of the regional cricket extravaganza kicks off in Pakistan and Sri Lanka from August 30, after its recent edition featured the shortest format last year. As the Tigers are gearing up for the six-team tournament under the leadership of all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, The Daily Star Sports look back to the Tigers’ performances in 2018 Asia Cup in UAE, played in their preferred 50-over format.
A FLYING START
Bangladesh won the opening match against Sri Lanka by a crushing 137-run margin at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, courtesy of Mushfiqur Rahim’s 150-ball 144.
The right-hander lifted Bangladesh to 261 after they were reduced to one run for two wickets by the end of the first over by danger man Lasith Malinga.
Read more
Guts deliver Tigers glory
But the match had something different in store. One delivery in particular had set in motion a chain of events that Bangladesh fans relive to this day.
In the 47th over, opener Tamim Iqbal strode out at number 11, when all the players had thought Mustafizur Rahman’s run out was the end of the innings. He played out one delivery with a broken left wrist tucked behind his hip – a scene that spoke volumes.
That bit of bravery for the team’s cause in the 46.5th over when Bangladesh were just 229 for nine on a good batting wicket galvanised the Tigers and judging by Sri Lanka’s sorry reply that saw them get bundled out for 124, thoroughly demoralised the opposition.
Read more
A gift of hope from a show of character
Tamim played out the last delivery of the over from Suranga Lakmal, who had sent him to the hospital with a bouncer that pinged his left wrist in only the second over of the innings. The left-handed batter did not need to play another ball in the next three overs as Mushfiqur plundered 32 runs off the next 15 balls, farming the strike and unfurling shots of pure genius that resulted in three fours and three sixes to take his tally to 11 boundaries and four maximums respectively. He fell with three balls still left, but by then the tide had irrevocably turned.
Then came the magnificent bowling effort from the Tigers to skittle Sri Lanka for 124 runs.
