India wins Asia Cup thriller
DUBAI, September 28, 2018
In what turned out to be a riveting final, India beat Bangladesh by three wickets with no balls to spare to retain their 7th Asia Cup title at the Dubai Sports City (DSC) stadium infront of a capacity 25,000-holiday crowd.
India’s win was orchestrated by some gritty batting from the lower middle order. Despite their batting prowess and wealth of experience, India almost failed to reach their target as the tension reached breaking point.
After winning the toss and putting Bangladesh to bat, India struggled to break the partnership of
openers Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan's 120-run stand.
Bangladesh were 116 without any loss after 20 overs in a dream start and were looking set for an over 300-run total at one stage.
The Bangladesh innings was built around a first one day international century by Das, who struck and assured 121 featuring 12 fours and two sixes. He put on 120 runs for the first wicket with Hasan, who made 32.
With pacers unable to make any breakthrough, capitain Rohit Sharma brought in the spinners and within minutes they turned the game in favour of India. Kuldeep Yadav grabbed three wickets while Kedar Jadhav picked up two. India were also brilliant field while MS Dhoni was lightning fast as always behind the stumps.
Sharp Indian fielding accounted for three run outs, including the dangerous No. 7 Soumya Sarkar for 33 just as he was looking set for a big score
Defending a target of 223, Bangladesh managed to get rid of Shikhar Dhawan and Ambati Rayudu early in the innings. They then dismissed Rohit Sharma just as the Indian captain started looking dangerous.
While Bangladesh kept picking wickets at regular intervals after that, carefully constructed partnerships like the one between veterans Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni, ended in India ending the match with their noses ever so slightly ahead.
Dhawan and Rayudu were dismissed for 15 and 2 respectively and India 46/2 after seven overs. Rohit Sharma then took the attack to the opposition and raced to 48. His innings included three fours and as many sixes but it was while attempting one such shot off Rubel Hossain that he ended up getting caught in the deep.
MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik then weathered the charged Bangladeshi attack and carefully pieced together a 54-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Jadhav was forced to retired hurt with a hamstring injury at the end of the 38th over, but he returned with India needing 11 to win after some big hitting from Bhuvneshwar Kumar (21).
India went into the last over wanting six runs and Jadhav faced the last ball with his side requiring one to retain their crown, the batsman getting his pad on Mahmudullah's delivery to seal victory.
None of the Indian batsmen reached 50, with captain Rohit Sharma leading with 48. Dinesh Karthik contributed 37 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored 36.
