Tag Asia cup 2012

Sarfraz Ahmed, the wicket keeper, was given a chance by Pakistani selectors in this Asia cup on one condition ~ he shows he can contribute to the team with the bat. Ahmed didn't do much in previous games and might lose his position even after his unbeaten 46 in this final match but it was his resilient knock and 19 runs that he collected with last man in last over that have visitors a hope after dismal batting performance and their total ended up 2 runs extra..

Bangladesh had everthing under control for most part of this match and looked like they may win their biggest tournament till date but pressure of chasing in big game got to them eventually. Pakistani spinners did a superb job. here's how the story unfolded.

Following the norm of chasing the target underlights, Bangladeshi captain had no second thoughts electing to bowl and soon his seamers got him two wickets to peg seniors Pakistan back. Mohammad Hafeez was settling down but run out of Misbah-ul-Haq meant Pakistan were 3 for 55 and soon Hafeez departed making it 4 for 70. Young Hammad Azam and Umar Akmal fought a little but real accelerate came from Shahid Afridi who struck few lusty blows before falling off a full toss. 8 down for 199 at the 45th over mark, Sarfraz Ahmed made sure Pakistan batted out their quota of overs and collected the valuable runs.

Tamim Iqbal once again game home team a strokeful start but his opening partner Nazimuddin wasn't going no where untill Afridi had him at slip. Jahurul Islam perished in next over to give the first hope to Pakistan but Nasir Hossain with Tamim Iqbal and then with Shakib AL Hasan was keeping Bangladeshi ahead in the game.

85 required from last 10 overs, Bangladesh felt they had left the onslought waiting for little too long and it indeed was the case. It came down to 9 runs from last over but only 5 came and they well 2 short of their dream.

Shahid Afridi was named man of the final and Shakib Al Hasan man of series.

Pakistan innings (invited in to bat)
Batsman		R	B	4s	6s
Mohammad Hafeez	c Nazmul b Razzak	40	87	4	0
Nasir Jamshed	c Mahmudullah b Mortaza	9	8	2	0
Younis Khan	lbw b Nazmul	1	5	0	0
Misbah-ul-Haq	run out (Nasir Hossain)	13	23	1	0
Umar Akmal	c Rahim b Mahmudullah	30	45	0	1
Hammad Azam	c & b Al Hasan	30	37	3	1
Shahid Afridi	c Hossain b Al Hasan	32	22	4	1
Sarfraz Ahmed	not out	46	52	4	0
Umar Gul	c Al Hasan b Mortaza	4	6	0	0
Saeed Ajmal	b Razzak	4	7	0	0
Aizaz Cheema	not out	9	11	1	0
Extra :	18 (byes=2, lbyes=8, wides=4, noballs=4)
Total :	236 runs in 50 overs for 9 wicket. RR = ( 4.72 ).
Fall of wickets : 1-16 (Jamshed, 4.2 ov), 2-19 (Khan, 5.2 ov), 3-55 (Misbah, 14.5 ov), 4-70 (Hafeez, 21.2 ov), 5-129 (Azam, 33.3 ov), 6-133 (Akmal, 34.5 ov), 7-178 (Afridi, 41.3 ov), 8-199 (Gul, 44.3 ov), 9-206 (Ajmal, 45.6 ov)

Bowler	Overs	Maiden	Runs	W	Extra
Mashrafe Mortaza	10	0	48	2	1 wide
Nazmul Hossain	8	1	36	1
Abdur Razzak	10	3	26	2
Shahadat Hossain	9	0	63	0	3nb, 2wd
Shakib Al Hasan	10	1	39	2	1 wide
Mahmudullah	3	0	14	1

Bangladesh innings (target = 237 from 50 overs)
Batsman		R	B	4s	6s
Tamim Iqbal	c Khan b Gul	60	68	8	0
Nazimuddin	c Khan b Afridi	16	52	0	0
Jahurul Islam	c Khan b Ajmal	0	5	0	0
Nasir Hossain	c Misbah b Gul	28	63	1	0
Shakib Al Hasan	b Cheema	68	72	7	1
Mushfiqur Rahim	c Jamshed b Cheema	10	8	1	0
Mahmudullah	not out	17	16	1	0
Mashrafe Mortaza	c Jamshed b Ajmal	18	9	2	0
Abdur Razzak	b Cheema	6	8	0	0
Shahadat Hossain	not out	0	1	0	0
Nazmul Hossain
Extra :	11 (lbyes=5, wides=4, noballs=2)
Total :	234 runs in 50 overs for 8 wicket. RR = ( 4.68 ).
Fall of wickets : 1-68 (Nazimuddin, 16.4 ov), 2-68 (Jahurul, 17.5 ov), 3-81 (Tamim, 23.1 ov), 4-170 (Nasir, 42.3 ov), 5-179 (Shakib, 43.4 ov), 6-190 (Rahim, 45.1 ov), 7-218 (Mortaza, 47.4 ov), 8-233 (Razzak, 49.5 ov)

Bowler	Overs	Maiden	Runs	W	Extra
Mohammad Hafeez	10	0	30	0	1 wide
Umar Gul	10	2	65	2	1 no ball
Saeed Ajmal	10	2	40	2	1 wide
Shahid Afridi	10	1	28	1	1 wide
Aizaz Cheema	7	0	46	3	1 no ball
Hammad Azam	3	0	20	0	1 wide