A delayed start by an hour and half cut the match to a 15-overs-a side match, and just when it looked Indian bowlers would make it a one-way traffic, Mahmudullah announced himself with a cameo that threw a dare towards India in the form a 121-run target in 90 balls. Thanks to Mahmudullah’s 33* off just 13 balls, 32* by Sabbir Rahman and Shakib’s 21, Bangladesh posted 120/5 in 15 overs.
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Top-ranked India crushed Bangladesh by 45 runs in the opening match of the tournament, but the hosts have since executed a turnaround, winning three matches on the trot to qualify for the final.
Walking in with Bangladesh in trouble at 75/5, the right-hander proceeded to hit two boundaries and an equal number of sixes in his 13-ball innings to remain unbeaten on 33. India and Sri Lanka have won the Asia Cup title the most times thus far, five each. Sabbir played the role of an anchor, ensuring that he didn’t lose his wicket, scoring 32 from 29 balls.
A second-wicket stand of 94 between Dhawan (60 off 44) and Kohli (41no from 28) all-but dashed Bangladesh’s hopes of a shock win.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza is dejected that his team was not able to gift the cricket insane home fans a victory which would have been “huge” for them but at the same time wants to quickly shrug off the disappointment ahead of their ICC World T20 campaign.
Bangladesh cricketer Tamim Iqbal plays a shot during the Asia Cup T20 cricket tournament final match between Bangladesh and India at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on March 6, 2016.
I extend my hearty congratulations to the team on their convincing win over Bangladesh in the final”, Board of Control for Cricket in India chief Manohar said in a statement. MS Dhoni’s side won all four of their group games, and what has been impressive is that it has been an all-round performance with both batsmen and bowlers chipping in at crucial stages.
The former all-rounder also described India’s transformation into an aggressive fighting unit as “gradual but enjoyable one”.
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India: MS Dhoni (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah. “It’s like putting in a lot at stake: if you win then they say “nothing really”; if you lose to Bangladesh, say people ‘oh, you lost to Bangladesh?”
