India clinched their seventh Asia Cup trophy and sixth ODI Asia Cup trophy after winning the last-ball thriller against Bangladesh in the final of Asia Cup 2018 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium (Dubai) on Friday.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma decided to field first after winning the toss in the crucial final. Bangladesh openers finally provided a brilliant start as the openers Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz put a 120-run partnership.
While Das dominated over the Indian bowlers, Miraz scored 32 runs off 59 balls (3 fours). But since that partnership was broken, Bangladesh lost their next wickets in regular intervals.
Also read: Ravindra Jadeja Produced A Match-winning Run-out
Das remained still on the crease in those next tough periods and completed his maiden international century in 87 balls. Das scored 121 runs off 117 balls (12 fours and 2 sixes) and stuck to the crease till the 40th over, before losing his wicket on the 41st over through the stumping.
Also watch: MS Dhoni Helps Kuldeep Yadav To Take Wickets
Apart from the openers, the no.7 batsman Soumya Sarkar managed to reach the double-digit scores in that innings as he scored 33 off 45 balls (only four and only six) before losing his wicket through the run-out on 49th over. None of other Bangladesh batsmen even reached to the double-digit scores in that innings and Bangladesh was bundled out for just 222 runs in 48.3 overs.
Among the Indian bowlers, the left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav (3/45) picked up three wickets while the off-spinner Kedar Yadav (2/41) got two wickets. Also, the leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (1/31) and the pacer Jasprit Bumrah (1/39) took one wicket each.
Also watch: Brilliance Of MS Dhoni and Jasprit Bumrah Bundled Out Bangladesh
In reply, Indian team lost their wickets in regular intervals as the opener Shikhar Dhawan (15) and no.3 batsman Ambati Rayudu (2) fell cheaply while another opener and the skipper Rohit Sharma scored 48 runs off 55 balls (3 fours and 3 sixes) before getting caught out.
From that difficult situation, Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni delivered a 54-run partnership for the fourth wicket. But both were dismissed at the crucial stages as the team again fell in trouble as Karthik (37) and Dhoni (36) both were dismissed on the 30s. Soon, Kedar Jadhav was retired hurt on 19 runs due to the hamstring injury as India was struggling 167/5 and the new two batsmen were on the crease (Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar).
In that crucial stage, Jadeja and Kumar provided a crucial 45-run partnership for the sixth wicket and that helped the team to reach the final stage of the game. Both Jadeja (23) and Kumar (21) were dismissed at the last moment, but Kedar Jadhav (23*) and Kuldeep Yadav’s (5*) unbroken eighth wicket partnership sealed the game for India on the last ball of the game.
Kedar returned to the crease after Jadeja’s dismissal but Kedar played perfectly to finish the game for the Indian cricket team. India needed 6 runs in the final over of Mahmudullah and the equation changed to one run from the last ball of the game which Kedar and Kuldeep snatched through a leg-bye.
It was the heart-breaking game for spirited Bangladesh cricket team who just failed to win their first ever big trophy in international cricket history. Among the Bangladeshi bowlers, Mustafizur Rahman (2/38) and Rubel Hossain (2/26) bagged two wickets each while Nazmul Islam (1/56), skipper Mashrafe Mortaza (1/35) and Mahmudullah (1/33) picked up one wicket each.
The centurion Liton Das won the Player of the Match award while the Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan won the Player of the Series award who finished the tournament as the leading run-scorer (342 runs).
Here are some Twitter reactions:
So near yet so far from Bangladesh. Congratulations to Team India on winning the #AsiaCup2018 . Hats off to Bangladesh for such a spirited fight despite missing key players. India have a lot of areas to work upon despite winning this & I am hopeful, they will get better. #IndvBan
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 28, 2018
A great game of cricket! Congratulations team India! 🇮🇳🇮🇳 A nail biting finals, but we did it! #AsiaCup2018 #INDvBAN
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 28, 2018
Congratulations India on winning the Asia Cup. The bowlers were phenomenal throughout the tournament and the main reason that we managed to win. Really special effort from Bangladesh to take the game so deep. Well done #IndvBan
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) September 28, 2018
Bangladesh did wonderfully well to take it as deep as they did. And the captain deserves a big part of the credit. Bangladesh looked poor midway into the tournament so this is a fine comeback
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 28, 2018
Not for the weak hearted. A match worthy of a final. Excellent from the Indian bowlers to set up yet another win….and Bhuvi, Jadeja & Jadhav for holding their nerve. Best team of the tournament keeps the trophy 🏆 Well Played, India 😊🙌👏👍
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 28, 2018
Rohit led the side really well, was wonderful with his bowling changes. But our middle order issue is getting more worrying. Need to sort this asap #IndvBan
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) September 28, 2018
Congratulations India on becoming #AsiaCup Champions. Hats off to Bangladesh for their splendid fight and attitude, for not giving up and playing out of their skins,this despite missing Shakib and Tamim. Special mention to Kedar Jadhav for his grit and commitment #IndvBan
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) September 28, 2018
Man of the Match: Cameraman
Man of the series: Cameraman #AsiaCupFinal
— Bhaiyyaji (@bhaiyyajispeaks) September 28, 2018
Picture Of The Day 🇮🇳
Nice To See This Baby Smile #INDvBAN #AsiaCupFinal pic.twitter.com/ARWSiRyKWQ— JASSI SINGH (C.K.J) (@Rishabh66332468) September 28, 2018
Munna Bhai MBBS featuring Indian Team 😂😂😂
It's Celebration Time 😍#INDvBAN #AsiaCupFinal #MakeRohitIndianCaptain pic.twitter.com/UqhiBfEPfH
— Rishabh Srivastava (@AskRishabh) September 28, 2018
Visuals of celebration from Kanpur after India won the Asia Cup 2018. #AsiaCupFinal pic.twitter.com/e1lsSZ4np9
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 28, 2018
Pic1: indian Fans to Indian team.
Pic2: indian Team to Indian fans. #INDvBAN #AsiaCupFinal pic.twitter.com/PumcjyXrbw
— Akshay Kumar (@SirAkshayKumar) September 28, 2018
#INDvBAN #AsiaCup2018 #AsiaCupFinal
Bangladesh: We will win asia cup.
India: pic.twitter.com/Hcvj635BlJ— Aditii🎀 (@Sassy_Soul_) September 28, 2018
Dhoni with Jadeja after the match… #AsiaCupFinal pic.twitter.com/mzHBBPBsK5
— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) September 28, 2018
Bangladeshi fans reaction after winning India by 3 wickets😂😂#INDvBAN#AsiaCupFinal #AsiaCup2018 #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/O5yoqb2VIn
— Mast Malang ^_^ (@sanket_daksha) September 28, 2018
Shastri – India were 7 down but I was 8 down.#INDvBAN #AsiaCupfinal pic.twitter.com/xY7YiPQhAt
— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) September 28, 2018
Cameraman After winning over Bangladesh #INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/y099b3nJ9U
— Vikas Kuri (@vikaskuri777) September 28, 2018
Well played bangladeshi brothers..Ye toh routine sa hi ho gaya hai. #INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/rO7ZwIr4Co
— Rafale Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) September 28, 2018
These kind of cheap act always that's why Bangladesh don't deserve big trophies. Look at India so mature, won the final still cool and clam. #INDvBAN #AsiaCupFinal pic.twitter.com/eEpV1ZY8CS
— Virendar Sehwag (@VirendarsSehwag) September 28, 2018
