Bangladesh reached the Asia Cup 2018 final after beating Pakistan by 37 runs at Sheikh Zayed Stadium (Abu Dhabi) in the last Super Four stage game on Wednesday (September 26). Bangladesh was bowled out on 239 runs (48.5 overs) while Pakistan was restricted to just 202/9 at the end of 50 overs.

Starting the game without Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza decided to bat first after winning the toss. After the top-order collapse as Bangladesh went down to 12/3, the wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim and the no.5 batsman Mohammad Mithun rescued the team with an impressive 144-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

While Mithun scored 60 runs off 84 balls (4 fours), Mushfiqur carried his innings but just missed a deserving century as he was caught behind the wicket on 99 runs off 116 balls (9 fours). At late, Mahmudullah (25), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (12) and the skipper Mortaza (13) played small important roles that settled Bangladesh for a fighting total of 239 runs (48.5 overs) before getting all-out.

Among the Pakistan bowler, Junaid Khan bowled brilliantly as he had the bowling figure of 9-1-19-4. Also, Shaheen Shah Afridi (2/47) and Hasan Ali (2/60) got two wickets each while Shadab Khan (1/52) picked up one wicket in that innings.

In reply, Pakistan also had a poor start as they went down to 18/3. Opener Imam-ul-Haq and no.5 batsman Shoaib Malik helped the team to move on from that tough situation with an important 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

After Malik was dismissed on 30 runs, Imam carried his innings and provided another important 71-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Asif Ali, before both lost their wickets in the quick successions. Ali scored 31 runs while the opener Imam played a fighting knock of 83 runs off 105 balls (2 fours and only six).

After picking up those wickets, Bangladesh quickly took their strong position in the game and in the end, they won the game comfortably. Pakistan surrendered the game after managing only 202/9 at the end of 50 overs. Bangladesh won this match by 37 runs.

Among the Bangladesh bowlers, the left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman took four wickets with the bowling figure of 10-2-43-4. Also, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (2/28) got two wickets while Rubel Hossain (1/38), Mahmudullah (1/38) and Soumya Sarkar (1/19) picked up one wicket each.

Mushfiqur Rahim won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant batting performance in this game. Bangladesh will play the final of the tournament against India on this Friday (September 28) at Dubai. The two-time Asia Cup runners-up Bangladesh (one in ODI format and one in T20I format) will be desperate to win the tournament for the first time while the six-time Asia Cup champion India (five in ODI format and one in T20I format) will try to win this tournament for the seventh time.

Brief Scores: Bangladesh – 239 in 48.5 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 99, Mohammad Mithun 60; Junaid Khan 4/19)

Pakistan – 202/9 in 50 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 83, Asif Ali 31; Mustafizur Rahman 4/43)

Result – Bangladesh won by 37 runs

Important stats highlights of the match:

• Since August 2014, it was the first time when Bangladesh played an ODI game without having any left-arm spinner in their playing XI.
• Bangladesh batsmen Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mithun put a 144-run partnership for the fourth wicket. It is their third highest partnership in the Asia Cup history (only in ODI formats).
• Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim was dismissed on 99 runs. First Bangladesh batsman in the international cricket history to be dismissed on 99 runs.
• Pakistan left-arm pacer Junaid Khan had a brilliant bowling figure of 9-1-19-4. It is the joint best bowling figure by a pacer against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup history (only ODI history). Former Pakistan left-arm pacer Wasim Akram had also a bowling figure of 9-2-19-4 against Bangladesh at Moratuwa on March 31, 1986.
• Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman had a brilliant bowling figure of 10-2-43-4. It is the best ODI bowling figure by a Bangladesh bowler against Pakistan. The previous record was 9-0-56-4 by Tapash Baisya at Lahore on September 15, 2003.
• Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman had a brilliant bowling figure of 10-2-43-4. It is the third best bowling figure by a Bangladesh bowler in the Asia Cup history (only ODI history).
• Bangladesh successfully defended their first batting total 239 runs. It is their second-lowest first innings total that successfully defended in the Asia Cup history (only ODI formats). The record is 221/9 (50 overs) against Hong Kong at Colombo (SSC) on July 16, 2004.
• Adding this victory, Bangladesh has won their all last four ODIs against Pakistan.