Victorious Pakistan beat Bangladesh

ASIA CUP – THE FINAL MATCH

BANGLADESH VS PAKISTAN

TOSS: BANGLADESH WON THE TOSS AND ELECTED TO FIELD

PAKISTAN – 236/9 IN 50 OVERS

BANGLADESH – 234/8 IN 50 OVERS

Date: 23th March 2012

Victorious Pakistan beat Bangladesh

An exhilarating match comes to an end between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Pakistan beating Bangladesh in a nail biting finish by 2 runs and immense effort from Bangladesh went in vain as they couldn’t create history.

The statistical highlights from the Asia Cup final between Bangladesh and Pakistan at Dhaka:

 Tamim Iqbal (60 off 68 balls) became the first batsman to register four fifties in succession at the Asia Cup - his previous three being 64 against Pakistan, 70 against India and 59 against Sri Lanka.  Tamim became the first Bangladeshi batsman to record four fifties in a row in ODIs. His fourth fifty against Pakistan is his 23rd in ODIs.

 Tamim has totalled 253 runs at an average of 63.25 in four matches - the most by a Bangladeshi batsman in the Asia Cup 2012.  Only Virat Kohli (357 at 119.00) has managed more runs than Tamim in the competition. Tamim is the first Bangladeshi batsman to amass 250 runs or more in an Asia Cup competition.

 Shakib's 25th fifty in ODIs is his third against Pakistan. His tally of 25 fifties and 30 innings of fifty-plus (5 centuries + 25 fifties) are records for Bangladesh in ODIs. Shakib's splendid 68 off 72 balls is his highest at the Asia Cup - his third fifty in the tournament.

 Shakib's 68 is the highest by a Bangladeshi batsman in a tournament final, surpassing the 60 by Tamim Iqbal in the same match.  They are the only batsmen to post fifties in a tournament final.  Shakib has got the Player of the series for the fifth time in ODIs for amassing 237 at 59.25 and claiming six wickets at 33.16 runs apiece.

 Younus Khan became the third Pakistani fielder after Imran Khan and Umar Akmal to take three catches in an ODI at the Asia Cup.

 Pakistan's thrilling two-run win over Bangladesh is the narrowest victory-margin at the Asia Cup, surpassing India's four-run win over Sri Lanka at Colombo (RPS) on July 27, 2004. Pakistan have won all eleven ODIs against Bangladesh at the Asia Cup. Overall, they have won 21 and lost 13 out of 35 played at the Asia Cup - success % 61.76 (NR 1).

 Pakistan have won the Asia Cup competition for the second time. They had first won the said competition in 2000 in Bangladesh, beating Sri Lanka by 39 runs at Dhaka. Bangladesh have lost both ODI competition finals they have qualified for - by 2 wickets to Sri Lanka in the Tri-Nation Tournament at Mirpur on January 16, 2009 and by 2 runs to Pakistan at the Asia Cup on March 22, 2012.

 Pakistan (236 for nine) have recorded their second highest total in an Asia Cup Final, behind the 277 for four against Sri Lanka at Dhaka on June 7, 2000. Bangladesh (234/8) have posted their highest total in a tournament final, eclipsing the 152 against Sri lanka at Dhaka on January 16, 2009.

 With 14 catches each, Younus Khan and Mahela Jayawardena jointly share a fielding record for most catches in the Asia Cup.  Aizaz Cheema's excellent figures of 3 for 46 are the second best by a Pakistani bowler in a Asia Cup Final, next only to Abdul Qadir's 3 for 32 against Sri Lanka at Colombo, SSC on April 6, 1986.

 Cheema's aforesaid performance is his best against Bangladesh in ODIs.  Shahid Afridi's tally of 29 Man of the Match awards is the highest by a Pakistani in ODIs, bettering Saeed Anwar's tally of 28 awards.

 Mohammad Hafeez is the leading run-scorer for Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2011-12, aggregating 245 at an average of 61.25 - the highest for Pakistan.  Hafeez's 40 off 87 balls is his highest innings in the tournament finals.  Sarfraz Ahmed (46 not out off 52 balls) has posted his career-best innings in ODIs.

 For the first time in an Asia Cup Final, not even a single fifty has been registered for Pakistan. Saeed Anwar's 82 off 115 balls against Sri Lanka at Dhaka on June 7, 2000 is the highest individual innings for Pakistan in an Asia Cup Final.

Misbah: This means a great deal for us. We were in trouble early on, but the guys performed admirably. The way Umar Akmal and Sarfraz Ahmed  played was heartening. It was a complete team effort. This wicket was slower and run-scoring was a bit difficult. If we got somewhere in between 225-230, we would have a good total to defend. The spinners, Afridi, Hafeez and Ajmal bowled well. Bangladesh gave a tough time to all the teams and they are also the winners.

Slight confusion in the Man of theMatch and Man of the series. Apparently, the wrong cheques were handed out to Shakib and Afridi.

Afridi: The guys have done very well. Bangladesh played some awesome cricket in this competition. I have not bowled or batted well in the last five games and I backed myself to bowl well. Shakib and Nasir Hossain played some good cricket. I tried my level best to perform with the bat. I was focussing on my bowling and I worked hard.

Shahid Afridi is the Man of the Match.

Shakib Al Hasan is the Man of the Series: If we look at the whole tournament, we have been good. The team have worked hard and it has been a terrific team effort. The crowd support was excellent. This has been a great positive for us and we will look to continue the good work. We need to learn from our mistakes. We came close to winning the Asia Cup and we will want to do well.

Rahim: 'Before the tournament, we prepared well. The boys executed the plans well. We played consistently. The pressure got to us. The wicket was slow, but Tamim and Shakib played well. The last over bowled by Shahadat was the crucial point in the match for us. Most of the players put their hands up and contributed. We hope to win more games from this point. We put up a fight in all the games. The wickets of Tamim and Shakib was the turning point.' (Rahim then thanks the crowd in Bengali for their support).