Saif’s lone fight in vain as India beat Bangladesh by 41 runs

Bangladesh opener Saif Hassan waged a solitary battle but could not prevent a 41-run defeat against India in their Asia Cup Super Four clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

With the win, India sealed a berth for the final. The outcome also meant Sri Lanka were eliminated, while Bangladesh's game against Pakistan on Thursday at the same venue turned into a virtual semifinal.

Chasing 168 for six, Bangladesh were bundled out for 127 in 19.3 overs, with Saif the only batter to offer resistance. The right-hander, fresh off a half-century in his previous outing, struck a second successive fifty -- a 69-run knock off 51 balls featuring three fours and five sixes -- and scored 54 percent of his team's runs. Saif, however, lived a charmed life, surviving four reprieves on 40, 65, 66, and 69, but still lacked support at the other end.

Only Parvez Hossain Emon, promoted to No. 3, managed double figures, grinding out 19 off 17 balls after taking eight deliveries to get off the mark. Bangladesh's batting woes were summed up by another failure from opener Tanzid Tamim, who managed just one off three balls before falling to Jasprit Bumrah in the second over. Towhid Hridoy (seven runs off 10 balls) failed to build on his match-winning knock against Sri Lanka as he skewed one in the 10th over to leave the Tigers reeling at 65-3. Shamim Hossain did not bother the scorers and skipper for the evening Jaker Ali (four off five balls) got run out) 

Earlier, India were propelled by a blistering 37-ball 75 from opener Abishek Sharma, who punished a dropped catch on three by Jaker Ali off Tanzim Hasan Sakib in the third over. Abishek's six fours and five sixes powered India to 72 without loss by the end of the Powerplay.

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (2-27) gave Bangladesh some respite, dismissing Shubman Gill (29 off 19) soon after the Powerplay and removing Shivam Dube in the ninth over. Abishek's charge ended with a run out in the 12th over after a mix-up with skipper Suryakumar Yadav, and Mustafizur Rahman struck later in the same over to nick off Suryakumar (5 off 11), leaving India 114-4.

The Tigers clawed back as Tanzim Sakib (1-29) dismissed Tilak Varma (5 off 7) in the 15th over, while Saifuddin -- expensive early on, conceding 33 in his first two overs -- redeemed himself with a superb final over that went for just four runs and included the wicket of Hardik Pandya (38 off 29). Part-time off-spinner Saif Hassan also played a handy role, conceding only seven runs in two overs. 

From a commanding 112-2 at the start of the 11th over, India managed only 56 runs for four wickets in the last nine, finishing on 168-6.

Saif fifty keeps Tigers in the contest 

Bangladesh opener Saif Hassan picked up where he left off in his previous match as he notched up back-to-back fifties, this time in 36 balls, to keep the Tigers' hopes alive in their Asia Cup Super Four clash against India in Dubai on Wednesday. 

Saif smashed three fours and five sixes in an unbeaten 40-ball 60 to propel Bangladesh to 102 -5 after 14 overs. Bangladesh need 67 runs in the next six overs to win. 

Tigers struggle for momentum at halfway mark  

Bangladesh struggled for momentum as they managed just 65 runs for the loss of three wickets after 10 overs in pursuit of India's 168-run total in their Asia Cup Super Four clash in Dubai on Wednesday. 

Opener Tanzid Tamim (one runs off three balls) was the first to depart when Jaspirt Bumrah got his number with a soft dismissal in the second over. Parvez Emon, who came in to bat at three on the night, was next. After failing to open his account in his first seven balls, Emon seemed to have found some touch, thanks to two fours and a six, propelling Bangladesh to 44-1 in the Powerplay but threw it away right after the first six. In the end, he managed 19 runs off 17 balls.

Towhid Hridoy (seven runs off 10 balls) failed to build on his match-winning knock against Sri Lanka as he skewed one in the 10th over to leave the Tigers reeling at 65-3.

Saif, on the other hand, was the only glimmer of hope for Bangladesh as he remained unbeaten on 31 off 26 balls.   

Tanzid departs but Tigers get steady start

Bangladesh opener Tanzid Tamim departed early in the second over but the Tigers were able to get a steady start in Powerplay in pursuit of India's 168-run total in their Asia Cup Super Four clash in Dubai on Wednesday.

After six over Bangladesh were 44-1, with opener Saif Hassan unbeaten on 19 runs off 16 balls and Parvez Emon not out on 19 runs off 17 balls.

India's star pacer Jasprit Bumrah got Tanzid out in the second over for just one runs (off three balls).

Bangladesh finish strong after Abishek storm

India opener Abishek Sharma lit up the Dubai International Cricket Stadium with a blistering 37-ball 75, but Bangladesh clawed back to restrict the defending champions to 168 for six in their Asia Cup Super Four clash on Wednesday.

Dropped on three by Jaker Ali off Tanzim Hasan Sakib in the third over, Abishek punished the mistake with six fours and five sixes, powering India to 72 without loss by the end of the Powerplay. 

Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (2-27) provided the breakthrough, removing Shubman Gill (29 off 19) soon after the Powerplay and then dismissing Shivam Dube in the ninth over. Abishek's charge ended in the 12th over when a mix-up with skipper Suryakumar Yadav saw him run out, and Mustafizur Rahman struck later in the same over to nick off Suryakumar (5 off 11), leaving India 114-4.

The Tigers tightened their grip as Tanzim Sakib (1-29) dismissed Tilak Varma (5 off 7) in the 15th over. Hardik Pandya held the innings together with 38 off 29, but Mohammad Saifuddin, who was hammered for 33 runs in his first two overs, delivered a superb final over, conceding just four runs and removing Hardik. 

The part-time option of Saif Hassan was also pivotal in restricting India as the off-spinner gave away just seven runs from his two overs. 

From a commanding 112-2 at the start of the 11th over, India managed only 56 runs for four wickets in the last nine, finishing on 168-6.

Bangladesh fightback after Abishek storm

Bangladesh managed to pull things back as they reduced India to 132-5 at the end of the 15th over after opener Abishek Sharma conjured up a storm to give the defending champions the upper hand in their Asia Cup Super Four encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Abishek, who was dropped by Jaker Ali on three in the third over, smashed six fours and five sixes for a 37-ball 75-run blitz before he was run out in the 12th over.

Pacer Tanzim Sakib was the latest to register his name into the wickets column as he dismissed Tilak Varma (five runs off seven balls) in the 15th over. This gave Bangladesh a serious scope to restrict India. 

Axar Patel came to the crease after Tilak's dismissal, and Hardik Pandya was unbeaten on a run-a-ball 11. 

Abishek run out after 75-run storm

India opener Abishek Sharma was run out after after a 37-ball 75-run storm in their Asia Cup Super Four encounter against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav cut one to deep backward point which was swiftly grabbed cut off by Rishad Hossain. This created a mix-up in the middle as Abishek had to turn back but was well short of his ground. 

Things got better for Bangladesh as in the same over, Mustafizur Rahman nicked off Surakumar (five off 11 balls) down the leg side as India were 114-4 after 12 overs.  

Rishad removes Gill, Dube to give Tigers some respite from Abishek storm 

Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain struck in back-to-back overs to give the Tigers some respite from the storm India opener Abishek Sharma had conjured up in their Asia Cup Super Four encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Having received a reprice while batting on three in the third over, Abishek smashed five fours and four sixes in a blistering unbeaten 29-ball 57-run blitz that propelled India to 91-2 after nine overs. 

Rishad, however managed to get Abihske's partner, Shubman Gill (29 runs off 19 balls) out straight after the Powerplay and then backed it up with another scalp when he removed Shivam Dube in the ninth over. 

Rishad gives Tigers first breakthrough after India get flying start 

Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain dismissed opener Shubman Gill after India got off to a blistering start in their Asia Cup Super Four encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. 

Bangladesh were on the receiving end of some lusty blows in the Powerplay but Rishad's breakthrough brought some respite as India were 81-1 after seven overs, with the other opener Abishek Sharma opener unbeaten on 49 runs off 22 balls.

Earlier, Jaker Ali dropped Abishek on three in the third over off the bowling off Tanzim Sakib after which the 25-year-old produced some bludgeoning blows to propel India to 71 for no loss at the end of the Powerplay.  

Litton out as Jaker-led Tigers bowl first 

Bangladesh skipper Litton Das was left out due to injury and Jaker Ali stepped in as the Tigers chose to bowl first in their Asia Cup Super Four encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. 

Litton suffered a back strain during practice on Monday evening, and with the Tigers scheduled to play Pakistan tomorrow in a crucial Super Four match, the 30-year-old was left out of the squad.

The Tigers made four changes. Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Sheikh Mahedi and Litton made way for Tanzim Sakib, Mohammad Saifuddin, Rishad Hossain, and Parvez Emon. India, meanwhile remained unchanged. 

Bangladesh XI: Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali (capt & wk), Shamim Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman

India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy