Pakistan beat Bangladesh to set up Asia Cup final with India

Bangladesh faltered in their chase of 136, falling short by 11 runs against Pakistan in their final Asia Cup Super Four clash in Dubai on Thursday.

The defeat ended the Tigers' campaign, while Pakistan booked their place in Sunday's final against India at the same venue.

Chasing 135 for victory in what was effectively a semifinal, Bangladesh could only manage 124 for 9. Shamim Hossain top-scored with a 25-ball 30, but apart from opener Saif Hassan's 18 off 15, no other batter provided meaningful charge at chasing down the total. Several wickets were thrown away, with a familiar top-order collapse leaving the Tigers three down for 36 inside the Powerplay.

Opener Parvez Emon fell for a duck in the opening over to Shaheen Shah Afridi, while Towhid Hridoy (5 from 10 balls) ran himself into trouble before perishing cheaply to give Saheen his second scalp. Saif, who looked the most assured with two sixes and a four, departed in the sixth over after a mistimed stroke off the bowling of Haris Rauf.

The middle order fared little better. Shak Mahedi Hasan (11 off 10 balls) chipped one straight to cover, while Nurul Hasan Sohan scratched his way to 16 off 21 balls before being undone by Saim Ayub. Skipper Jaker Ali (5 off 9 balls) also failed to make an impact, ending the campiagn without hitting a six, and the chase never gathered momentum as Pakistan's bowlers kept striking at regular intervals and had consistent opportunities coming their way.

Shaheen Afridi was once again the chief destroyer with 3 for 17, while Haris Rauf matched him with 3 for 23. Youngster Saim Ayub impressed with his variations, returning 2 for 16 from four tidy overs. Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with one wicket.

Earlier, Bangladesh bowlers had impressed to restrict Pakistan to 135 for 8. Taskin Ahmed (3-28) and Rishad Hossain (2-18) reduced Pakistan to 55 for 5 after 12 overs before sloppy fielding allowed the opposition to recover. Mohammad Haris top-scored with 31, while Nawaz's 25, Shaheen's 19 and Faheem Ashraf's unbeaten 14 lifted Pakistan to a competitive total.

Bangladesh were left ruing dropped catches -- with Shaheen and Nawaz given reprieves -- as Pakistan plundered 80 runs in the final eight overs.

In the end, those lapses and another brittle batting display proved costly, leaving Bangladesh out of the Asia Cup and Pakistan through to face India in the final.

Tigers in trouble after losing half their side 

Bangladesh made a meal of their run chase as they lost half their side for just 64 runs in pursuit of Pakistan's 138-5 in their crucial Asia Cup Super Four clash in Dubai on Thursday.

Nurul Hasan Sohan was the latest batter to throw his wicket away as he failed to put away a tossed-up delivery bowled by Saim Ayub in the 12th over. He managed one maximum and chewed up 21 balls for his 16 runs. His dismissal brought skipper Jaker Ali to the crease.

Earlier in the eighth over, Shak Mahedi gave Mohammad Nawaz his first wicket when he chipped one straight to deep cover after scoring a 10-ball 11.

Earlier, Bangladesh suffered from a top-order meltdown, leaving them three down for 36 at the end of the Powerplay, in pursuit of Pakistan 135-8 in their final Asia Cup T20 Super Four clash in Dubai on Thursday.

Opener Parvez Emon (0) disappointed again as he lasted just two deliveries before Shaheen Afridi did what he does so often -- get a breakthrough in his opening over. Towhid Hridoy came in at three but it was quite a disastrous stay in the middle for him. The right-hander almost ran in-form Saif Hassan out in the fifth over before throwing his wicket away in the same over. He chewed up 10 balls for his five runs. 

In the last over of the Powerplay, Saif, who looked the best amongst all his fellow batters, succumbed to a leading edge that went straight to backward point. He managed to hit two sixes and a four for his 15-ball 18.

Tigers in trouble after losing three wickets in Powerplay 

Bangladesh suffered from a top-order meltdown, leaving them three down for 36 at the end of the Powerplay, in pursuit of Pakistan 135-8 in their final Asia Cup T20 Super Four clash in Dubai on Thursday.

Opener Parvez Emon (0) disappointed again as he lasted just two deliveries before Shaheen Afridi did what he does so often -- get a breakthrough in his opening over. Towhid Hridoy came in at three but it was quite a disastrous stay in the middle for him. The right-hander almost ran in-form Saif Hassan out in the fifth over before throwing his wicket away in the same over. He chewed up 10 balls for his five runs. 

In the last over of the Powerplay, Saif, who looked the best amongst all his fellow batters, succumbed to a leading edge that went straight to backward point. He managed to hit two sixes and a four for his 15-ball 18.  

Taskin, Rishad shine but Pakistan fight back to post 135-8

Bangladesh bowlers impressed early but a spirited late recovery saw Pakistan post 135 for eight in their final Asia Cup T20 Super Four clash in Dubai on Thursday.

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (2-18) and pacer Taskin Ahmed (3-28) did the bulk of the damage, reducing Pakistan to 55 for 5 after 12 overs. But the Tigers let the initiative slip, as dropped chances and sloppy fielding allowed Pakistan to rally in the second half of their innings.

Mohammad Haris top-scored with a 23-ball 31, striking two fours and a six before falling to Sheikh Mahedi Hasan. Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with a brisk 25 off 15 deliveries, hitting two sixes and a four, while Shaheen Shah Afridi's 19 off 13 and Faheem Ashraf's unbeaten 14 off nine balls ensured Pakistan reached a competitive total on a tricky wicket.

Earlier, Bangladesh got off to a flying start after electing to field. Taskin struck in the very first over, removing Sahibzada Farhan for four, before Mahedi dismissed Saim Ayub for a duck in the next to leave Pakistan tottering at 5 for 2. Fakhar Zaman (13 off 20) was next to go, holing out to Rishad, who also dismissed Hussain Talat cheaply to tighten the screws further.

At the halfway stage, Pakistan were struggling at 46 for 4, and when Rishad struck again in the 10th over, Bangladesh appeared firmly in control. But skipper Salman Agha (18 not out off 21) anchored the middle, while Pakistan's lower order mounted a vital fightback.

Bangladesh were left ruing three missed opportunities: Nurul Hasan dropped Shaheen before he scored, Mahedi grassed the same batter later in the over, and Parvez Hossain Emon shelled a straightforward chance off Nawaz on four. Those lapses proved costly as Pakistan's tail wagged, plundering 80 runs in the final eight overs.

For Bangladesh, the absence of regular captain Liton Das -- sidelined with injury -- saw Jaker Ali once again leading the side. The Tigers made three changes, bringing in Taskin, Mahedi and Nurul Hasan, while Pakistan remained unchanged.

With a place in the final against India at stake, Bangladesh will now need a composed batting effort to chase down 136 in this virtual semifinal.

Rishad strikes twice as Tigers have Pakistan stifled at halfway mark

Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain struck twice after the Powerplay to have Pakistan cornered in their in their final Asia Cup Super Four encounter against Pakistan in Dubai on Thursday.

Rishad removed opener Fakhar Zaman (20-ball 13) straight after the Powerplay and came back in his next over to dismiss Husain Talat (seven-ball three) to have Pakistan four down for 46 after 10 overs. 

Pakistan skipper Salman Agha remained unbeaten on 18 off 21 balls, while Mohammad Haaris was not out on eight off five deliveries.

Earlier, pacer Taskin Ahmed removed opener Sahibzada Farhan in the very first over of the innings and Shak Mahedi followed suit as he dismissed Saim Ayub for a duck in the next over to reduce Pakistan to five runs for the loss of two wickets after the first two overs. Pakistan avoided further damage and finished the Powerplay at 27-2. 

Taskin, Mahedi strike to give Tigers strong start

Pacer Taskin Ahmed and off-spinner Shak Mahedi struck in back-to-back overs to give Bangladesh a flying start in their final Asia Cup Super Four encounter against Pakistan in Dubai on Thursday.

Taskin removed opener Sahibzada Farhan in the very first over of the innings and Mahedi followed suit as he dismissed Saim Ayub for a duck in the next over to reduce Pakistan to five runs for the loss of two wickets after the first two overs. 

Pakistan avoided further damage and finished the Powerplay at 27-2, with skipper Salman Agha unbeaten on 11 runs off 10 balls and Fakhar Zaman not out on 12 runs off 19 balls. 

Taskin gives Tigers their first breakthrough 

Pacer Taskin Ahmed got Bangladesh off to a riveting start as he removed Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan in the very first over of the innings in their final Asia Cup Super Four encounter against Pakistan in Dubai on Thursday. 

Farhan (four off four balls) managed to put away a four in the third delivery of the over but Taskin came back strongly as his full-length ball outside off-stump became too tempting for the right-handed batter. He slashed hard and was caught a backward point where an alert Rishad Hossain was stationed.  

No Litton as Jaker-led Tigers opt to bowl against Pakistan 

Injury kept Litton Das out and Jaker Ali continued to lead as Bangladesh opted to bowl first after winning the toss in their final Asia Cup Super Four encounter against Pakistan in Dubai on Thursday. 

The contest is a virtual semifinal for both sides as the winner of the match will qualify for the final where they will face India.

The Tigers made three changes from their last match against India yesterday. Tanzid Tamim, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed made way for Nurul Hasan Sohan, Taskin Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan. Pakistan, however, remained unchanged.

Bangladesh XI: Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali (capt & wk), Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (capt), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed