Bangladesh’s big dreams to triumph the Emerging Cup trophy were dashed by Pakistan when the visiting team beat the hosts by 77 runs in the high-scoring thriller of the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup-2019 final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Even though the 2019 final was first for Bangladesh, it was third for Pakistan, who were thumped earlier by Sri Lanka in 2017 in Bangladesh after losing to India in the maiden edition of the Emerging Cup in Singapore in 2013. Pakistan Emerging Team threw a stiff and challenging target for Bangladesh after being compiled 301-6 on the board having put in to bat first in Mirpur's unpredictable surface, where the home side were folded for 224.
It was predicted before the match that Bangladesh needed to give a tough fight to thrash the well-balanced tourists and the real fight of the Bangladesh top-order will be against Pakistan’s pace attack led by Mohammad Hasnain. It was proved ‘true’ in the match when Bangladesh openers-Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Naim Sheik’s splash with bat was marred by pacers- Hasnain and Sameen Gul. Removing Soumya and Naim Sheikh, the bowlers dealt a big blow to Bangladesh innings that finally ended at 224 in 43.3 overs.
Leg-spinner Saif Badar and Khushdil Shah joined hands with the pace bowlers, who equally shared 10 wickets between them. But quick Hasnain grabbed the highest three wickets among the bowlers. Captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto (46), Afif Hossain(49) and Mahedi Hasan (42) generated a glimmer of hope that was not enough to stop the inevitable because there was no such batsman in the local tents after the exits of Soumya, Afif and Shanto to accelerate the strike what was needed to triumph the exciting final that drew five-six thousand local crowd who thronged at Shaheed Mushtaque and Shaheed Jewell galleries along with southern and grandstands en masse to inspire the home team.
Earlier, young pacer Sumon Khan provided a much-needed breakthrough for Bangladesh with his double strikes when he removed Omar Yousuf and Haider Ali in two successive over that pushed Pakistan backward for a while.
But on-song Rohail Nazir bailed Pakistan out from the precarious 41-2 through a couple of successful partnerships that brought them back on track.
The wicketkeeper-batsman, who smacked 113 after his big scores of 53* and 64 in the tournament, cobbled together 117 with Imran Rafiq for the third-wicket stand that laid the foundation of the thumping total. Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan broke the threatening partnership when he prey Imran Rafiq to his lone wicket. Imran was caught by Mahedi after scoring 62. His 88-ball innings littered with four boundaries along with two maximums.
Rohail then pulled together another 85 runs with captain Saud Shakeel for the fourth-wicket stand that placed Pakistan in good stead. Getting life twice, the top-order batsman smoked 113 off 111 with a round dozen boundary along with three big shots over the ropes before being trapped lbw.
In 44.2 overs, Pakistan were 243 for four when centurion Rahail walked back to the hut. From this stage, it was difficult for the visitors to cross 300 runs but dropping two more easy catches by Yasir Ali Chowdhury Rabbi simplified their efforts to make those runs.
Finally captain Shakeel’s 40-ball 42 along with the late cameos from Khushdil Shah (27 off 16) and Amad Butt (15 off 7) helped Pakistan post a walloping 301 for six.
Soumya Sarkar was adjudged player of the tournament and Rohail Nazir was named player of the final. State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Hasan Russell distributed trophy among the winners as the chief guest at the closing ceremony.