India pulled-off a spectacular win from the jaws of defeat to claim their 7th Asia Cup title and their first title since 2010. The middle order failure and the tragic injury to Kedar Jadhav got India in all sort of trouble but a determined 52-run stand between Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar took the game away from Bangladesh. Kedar Jadhav and Kuldeep Yadav battle the nerves to take India to a 3-wickets victory over Bangladesh, who have to wait for 2 more years to claim their maiden Asia Cup title.
Bangladesh innings
Earlier in the match, Bangladesh got off to a flier courtesy of their new opening combination of Mehidy Hasan(32) and Liton Kumar Das(121). The left-right combo troubled the Indian bowling attack and took the score to 120 runs in 21st over before Mehidy was dismissed by Kedar Jadhav. Bangladesh lost all the momentum from there as they lost wickets in quick succession.
Imrul Kayes(2), Mushfiqur Rahim(5), Mithun(2) and Mahmudullah(4) disappointed in the middle order as Bangladesh lost its way in the mid-innings. Liton continued to take the attack to the opposition and notched his maiden ODI hundred to take the score close to 200 runs. Kuldeep Yadav eventually dismissed him courtesy of a thunderous stumping by MS Dhoni. Bangladeshi lower order didn’t create much impact as they were dismissed for 222 runs in 48.3 overs.
Summary: Bangladesh- 222/10 in 48.3 overs. Liton Das (121), Kuldeep Yadav 3/45
India innings
The onus was again on Shikhar Dhawan(15) and Rohit Sharma(48) to take the Indian innings forward but Najmul Islam had some other plans as he dismissed Dhawan, the highest run-getter of the tournament. At 35-1, Ambati Rayudu(2) accompanied Rohit Sharma in the center but the former batsman was dismissed cheaply by skipper Mashrafe Mortaza.
After stitching a 37 run partnership with Dinesh Karthik(37), India captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed by Rubel Hossain that put India in some sort of pressure. MS Dhoni(36) and Karthik then took the innings forward and stitched a 54-run stand before Karthik was dimissed by Mahmudullah.
Mustafiqur later dismissed Dhoni that put India on back foot and in every sort of possibility to lose the match.
Kedar Jadhav(23) was the last hope for India but a hamstring injury in his leg forced him to retire hurt that brought Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the crease who joined Ravindra Jadeja.
The duo continued to battle the nerves and put up a 52-run stand to take the game away from Bangladesh. Ravindra Jadeja was dismissed in the 48th over when India required 11 run of 17 balls. Kedar Jadhav returned to the crease and took the game to the last over where they needed 6 runs.
Last over thriller
49.1: Mahmudullah came to bowl and Kuldeep took a single.
49.2: Kedar Jadhav took a single on second ball to take the equation to 4 off 4 balls.
49.3: Kuldeep slow-swept and took two runs to take the equation to 2 off 3 balls.
49.4: Dot ball
49.5: Kuldeep didn’t connect but ran a single of leg-bye.
49.6: Needing 1 off 1 ball, Mahmudullah kept the ball on leg side which eventually goes -off the leg-guard of Jadhav and he steels a single to win the match for India.
Summary: India , Rohit Sharma (48), Rubel Hossain 2/26
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