India win Asia Cup for the 6th time

India thumped Tigers by eight wickets to claim their sixth Asia Cup during the rain-effected final under the lights at Mirpur stadium tonight.

India’s successful chase was set up by their 2nd wicket partnership of 94 runs. MS Dhoni came out after the fall of Shikhar Dhawan and took his team home with 20 runs off just six balls.

Dhawan was the highest scorer for India with 60 runs. Kohli was unbeaten at the end with 41 off 28 balls with five fours in his knock.

For Bangladesh, the fielding lapses late in India’s chase gave away vital runs and made it relatively easy for India to romp home with seven balls left in the bag.

Taskin Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain picked up a wicket each while Nasir Hossain chipped in with his offies, and kept things tight from one end.

Bangladesh finally managed to break India’s second wicket partnership when Taskin Ahmed came back in the 13th over to dismiss Shikhar Dhawan.

Dhawan was instrumental in the stand with Kohli that generated 94 runs in 11.1 overs. The Indian opener struck 60 from 44 balls with nine fours and a huge six to his name.

India still favourites to win even after the loss of Dhawan against the run of play.

Indian batters Kohli and Dhawan kept Bangladesh bowlers at bay with sensible batting under pressure.

The unbeaten second wicket partnership between the Indian batsmen produced 62 runs in 7.1 overs, and took the match away from the hosts.

India were rocked early in their chase of 121 when Bangladesh new ball bowler Al-Amin Hossain dismissed the in-form Rohit Sharma for a single run.

Rohit stayed in his crease, flashed away from his body and got an edge to Soumya at slip in the 2nd over.

Earlier, Bangladesh reached 120 for five after 15 overs thanks to a timely cameo from Mahmudullah late in the innings in conjunction with the unbroken sixth wicket stand of 45 against India during the final of Asia Cup 2016 at Mirpur.

Mahmudullah smashed 33 from 13 balls with two fours and two towering sixes. He was ably supported by Sabbir Rahman. Sabbir was undefeated on 32, which he made from 29 balls with two hits across the fence.

A disciplined bowling effort from India saw four bowlers pick up a wicket each.

India dominated proceedings after the 12th over, as Bangladesh lost two crucial wickets in two balls.

Mashrafe Mortaza lasted only one ball as he tried to pull a flat delivery from Jadeja and found the fielder at deep mid-wicket.

Mushfiqur Rahim was run out for four runs in the third ball of the 12th over bowled by Jadeja. Mushy tried to reach the crease with a dive but the throw from the deep was too good.

Shakib Al Hasan fell in the first ball of the ninth over bowled by Ashwin. The wicket came against the run of play when Shakib top-edged a slog sweep to Bumrah at short fine-leg.

Bangladesh allrounder scored 21 runs from 16 balls with three hits to the fence.

The third-wicket stand between Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman removed the early jitters, and managed to up the tempo with some exciting batting. The stand produced 34 runs.

India new ball bowler Bumrah gave his team the second breakthrough in the fifth over, and managed to dismiss the dangerous Tamim for only 13 runs.

Tamim planted his front foot forward right across the stumps, swung across the line, missed the ball and was given out by the umpire.

India calling the shots early…

Bangladesh lost their first wicket after a strong start when Nehra got the better of Soumya in the fourth over of the match.

Soumya tried to slog a shortish ball off the front foot, but mis-timed his shot badly to lob a catch to Pandya at mid-off. Soumya scored 14 from nine balls with three fours.

Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Soumya came out to bat with a purpose, and gave their team a strong start.

India skipper MS Dhoni opted to field first after the coin fell in his favour before the 15-over final of Asia Cup 2016 against Bangladesh under the lights.

Neither side thinks this will be an uneven contest. Though India beat Bangladesh soundly in the tournament opener, they are aware of what their opponents are capable at home, especially after a series loss in June 2015.

Bangladesh are aware of their own strength, and there is an unmistakable confidence in their approach in T20Is these days. A win in the final would therefore be a watershed moment in this format for them.

India have been flawless in the tournament so far. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have made the best of every opportunity in crunch moments, while Yuvraj Singh is slowly coming into his own.

Rohit steered India after a sluggish start against Bangladesh; Kohli weathered the Mohammad Amir storm against Pakistan, while Yuvraj was in his elements against Sri Lanka.

All this has meant MS Dhoni has faced all of nine balls in the tournament, while Suresh Raina hasn't had a major impact with the bat.

The story with the ball isn't too different. Jasprit Bumrah and Ashish Nehra have done the damage at the top, while Hardik Pandya has played the role of a third seamer to his captain's liking.

The spinners - R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja - have done what they usually do, even though some of the surfaces they have played on haven't aided turn.

That Bangladesh find themselves in this position has been largely due to the effect their bowlers have had. Taskin Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain have stepped up, while Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza have given fine supporting acts in their last three wins.

The battle could get more interesting if the hosts decide to play Abu Hider, the BPL bowling hero, and off-spinning allrounder Nasir Hossain in place of Arafat Sunny and Mohammad Mithun.

Bangladesh Squad

Mashrafe Mortaza (Captain), Abu Hider, Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim 9Wicketkeeper), Nasir Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal and Taskin Ahmed

India Squad

MS Dhoni (Captain, Wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, JJ Bumrah, S Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, RA Jadeja, V Kohli, B Kumar, P Negi, A Nehra, HH Pandya, PA Patel (Wicketkeeper), AM Rahane, SK Raina, RG Sharma and Yuvraj Singh