Asia Cup 2018: Bangladesh's Road to Final
The date is set, and the venue is booked. India vs Bangladesh in the finals of the 2018 Asia Cup. The Men in Blue will be aiming to reassert their continental supremacy while injury-hit Bangla tigers will hope to shrug off stage fright when the two sides square off in the grand finale at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. A passionate and determined Bangladesh turned out to be the party-poopers on Wednesday as they wrecked the prospects of an India-Pakistan summit clash with a gutsy performance despite losing key players to injury, to knock out the Green Gang.
Bangladesh have seen various up and downs during Asia Cup 2018 as they start their campaign on a high note against Sri Lanka and thrashed them in the opening match of the tournament but later they struggled against Afghanistan and suffered a humiliating loss against them. Later in the Super Four stage, they lost to the finalist India single-handedly, but they bounced back and defeated Afghan side and Pakistan to enter the final of Asia Cup for the two successive times.
Road to final:
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Group Stage- Won by 137 runs
In the opener of Asia Cup Bangladesh completely outlasted Sri Lanka thanks to the outstanding innings of wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim of 144 runs that led Bangladesh to post 261 runs in 49.3 overs in Dubai. The downfall of Sri Lanka team started from there when their batting collapsed miserably against Bangladesh's bowlers and was all out on just 124 runs in 35.2 overs and the Bangla Tigers won the match by 137 runs.
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Group Stage
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Group Stage- Lost by 136 runs
In the second match of Bangladesh, tables had turned for them as Afghanistan team was all over them in the match and thrashed them in every department thanks to Rashid Khan who smashed an unbeaten 57 off just 32 balls in a superb counter-attacking batting display to take Afghanistan to a competitive 255 for 7 after opting to bat. Later Rashid dismantles Bangla batsmen and picked two crucial wickets with an economy of just 1.44 in 9 overs and Bangladesh were all out on 119 runs in the absence of in-form Mushfiqur Rahim.
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Group Stage
Bangladesh vs India, Super Four- Lost by 7 Wickets
The returning Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja ran riot on Bangladesh batting order and destroyed it by picking four wickets in his comeback match after 2017. India won the toss and opt to bowl first and stopped Bangladesh on just 173 runs. India then cruised to victory in 36.2 overs courtesy Rohit, who struck an unbeaten 83 off 104 balls, his second consecutive fifty-plus score of the tournament. He was all class in his delightful innings that comprised five fours and three huge sixes on the leg-side.
Bangladesh vs India, Super Four
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Super Four- Won by 3 runs
The Bangla Tigers bounce back on the right time in the tournament and won a nail-biting clash against Afghanistan in the final over of the match. The Afghan side needed 8 runs in the final over but they choked and lost the match to Bangladesh's fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. They won the toss and opt to bat first and put 249 on the scoreboard and defend it like the boss to stay alive in the competition.
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Super Four
Bangladesh vs Pakistan, Super Four- Won by 37 runs
Motivated by an impressive knock of 99 runs by Mushfiqur Rahim, pacer Mustafizur Rahman claimed four wickets as Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 37 runs to set up the final clash with India in the 2018 Asia Cup. Rahim and Rahman remained key players for the Bangladesh side in the entire campaign and they will need both to continue their good run against Asian giants India in the final of the Asia Cup.
Bangladesh vs Pakistan, Super Four
