Bangladesh struggled in the chase of 136, slipping to 36/3 in the powerplay and failing to recover as wickets tumbled regularly. From the 7th over onwards, the batting side never managed to build momentum, losing key wickets at critical moments.
After the dismissals of Towhid Hridoy and Saif Hassan, Bangladesh was in trouble at 29/3. Saif fell for 18 off 15 balls, caught at backward point by Saim Ayub off Haris Rauf. Nurul Hasan struck a six off the very next delivery over third man, bringing the powerplay total to 36.
At the halfway stage, Bangladesh had managed 58/4, slightly ahead of Pakistan’s corresponding 46/4 but still under pressure. Shamim and Nurul had hit one six each, with Abrar Ahmed conceding 9 runs in the over.
Nurul Hasan departed for 16 off 21 balls, attempting a big shot and caught at long-off by Mohammad Nawaz. Bangladesh now needed 68 runs from 42 balls, with Afridi claiming his second wicket of the innings.
Jaker Ali was caught at long-off after a reckless shot off Abrar Ahmed, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 73/6. Shamim and Tanzim Hasan added 12 runs earlier in the over, reducing the requirement to 51 runs from 30 balls.
Saim Ayub bowled the 16th over, conceding 5 runs and finishing his spell with figures of 2/16. Bangladesh needed 46 runs from the last four overs.
Shamim Hossain fell to Shaheen Afridi’s slower ball, caught at backward point by Hussain Talat. Tanzim Hasan and Rishad Hossain were left to fight 39 runs from 18 balls.
Haris Rauf struck twice in quick succession, bowling out Tanzim Hasan and then dismissing Taskin Ahmed for 4, leaving Bangladesh 101/9. With just one wicket in hand, 33 runs were required from the final 12 balls.
The improbable target of 23 runs from the last over proved beyond Mustafizur and Rishad. Ball by ball: 1 leg bye, 4 from Rishad, dot, six from Rishad, dot, dot. Bangladesh fell short by 11 runs, bowing out of the tournament as Pakistan advanced to face India in the final.
Early blows leave Bangladesh struggling at 36/3 after six overs
Bangladesh endured a shaky start in their chase, losing three wickets within the powerplay to slip to 36 for 3 at the end of six overs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi struck in the very first over, removing Parvez Hossain for a duck. The delivery climbed awkwardly, and Parvez’s attempted pull only found Mohammad Nawaz at backward square leg. Bangladesh were 1/1 after the first over, with Towhid Hridoy joining Saif Hasan at the crease.
In the third over, Saif lifted Faheem Ashraf over mid-on for the first six of the innings, before Afridi’s next over conceded just four runs, leaving Bangladesh at 13/1.
The fifth over brought further trouble. Saif managed a four and a six off Haris Rauf, but the over ended in disaster when Hridoy (5 off 10) was caught at backward point by Saim Ayub off Afridi. The score slipped to 23/2, though Mehidy Hasan immediately countered with a six two balls later.
Any hopes of a steady recovery were short-lived. In the sixth over, Saif Hasan (18 off 15) departed in similar fashion to Hridoy, caught by Ayub at backward point off Rauf’s bowling. That left Bangladesh reeling at 29/3. Nurul Hasan, however, offered a brief spark by smashing the very next delivery for six over third man, lifting the score to 36/3 at the end of the powerplay’s opening phase.
Disciplined Bangladesh restrict Pakistan to 135
Bangladesh maintained their grip after the powerplay, never allowing Pakistan’s batters to settle, and despite a few missed chances, the bowlers showed discipline to restrict their rivals to 135 for 8 in 20 overs.
After reaching 29 for 3 inside seven overs, Pakistan continued to struggle. In the 10th over, leg-spinner Rishad Hossain struck for the second time, removing Hussain Talat, brilliantly caught low by Saif Hasan. Pakistan slipped to 33 for 4, crawling to 46 for 4 at the halfway stage. Mahedi Hasan’s over cost 9 runs, the most expensive of the innings to that point.
Captain Salman Agha tried to steady the innings but fell to Mustafizur Rahman on 19, edging behind to Jaker Ali. The umpire’s decision of not out was overturned on review, leaving Pakistan reeling at 49 for 5 in the 11th over.
What followed was a chaotic passage for Bangladesh. Shaheen Afridi was given three lives in Rishad’s 12th over, dropped by Nurul Hasan, reprieved by an umpire’s call, and then put down again by Mahedi Hasan. The left-hander took full advantage, clearing the ropes twice in the next two overs off Tanzim Hasan and Taskin Ahmed, as Pakistan pushed to 65 for 5 after 13 overs.
Taskin, however, regained control by dismissing Afridi for 19, pouched safely by captain Jaker Ali with the gloves. The seamer could have had another wicket in the same over, but Parvez Hossain shelled a simple chance from Mohammad Nawaz, which went for four. Pakistan reached 94 for 6 after 16 overs.
Mohammad Haris and Nawaz added some resistance, taking 11 off Mustafizur’s 16th over to lift the total past 100. The partnership was broken in the 18th, when Mahedi trapped Haris with a sharp return catch after the batter had scored 31 from 23 deliveries. Nawaz then fell in the 19th, dismissed for 25 after Parvez made amends with a superb running catch off Taskin, who finished with 3 for 28.
Mustafizur closed the innings with the 20th over, conceding 11 runs as Pakistan ended on 135 for 8. From 46 for 4 at the halfway point, they added 89 in the final 10 overs, but Bangladesh’s bowlers ensured the target remained modest in this virtual semi-final.
Bangladesh bowlers rattle Pakistan early
Bangladesh’s bowlers made a blistering start to their Asia Cup clash against Pakistan, reducing them to 29 for 3 inside the first seven overs after electing to field. Taskin Ahmed, Mehidy Hasan and Rishad Hossain all struck in their opening overs to leave Pakistan reeling.
Earlier, Bangladesh stand-in captain Jaker Ali won the toss and chose to bowl, explaining that his side had enjoyed recent success chasing and that the dry surface suited their approach. He also underlined that their ambition to win the tournament remained unchanged. Bangladesh made three changes to their XI, bringing back Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed and Nurul Hasan in place of Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed and Tanzid Hasan. Regular captain Litton Das remained unavailable, with Jaker continuing to lead in his absence.
Pakistan skipper Salman Agha admitted he would have batted first regardless, noting that his team had played well whenever they posted strong totals. Riding high after their win over Sri Lanka, Pakistan went into the game unchanged.
The pre-match pitch report from Waqar Younis and Simon Doull pointed to a healthy covering of grass, suggesting early assistance for seamers, with cooler weather and some moisture in the air expected to provide swing in the powerplay.
That prediction proved accurate almost immediately. Taskin Ahmed removed Sahibzada Farhan in the opening over to claim his 100th T20 international wicket, becoming only the third Bangladeshi after Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman to reach the milestone. Pakistan were 4 for 1.
Things worsened in the next over as Mehidy Hasan dismissed Saim Ayub for his fourth duck in six Asia Cup innings, Pakistan slipping to 5 for 2. Taskin’s pace and movement continued to trouble the batters, and Fakhar Zaman and Salman Agha were forced into survival mode.
The struggle to score was evident as Pakistan managed only 21 for 2 after five overs – their lowest ever powerplay tally against Bangladesh in T20 internationals. Rishad Hossain then joined the attack and struck with his very first over, removing Fakhar Zaman for 13 as the left-hander attempted to clear the ropes but was caught at long-off.
By the end of the seventh over, Pakistan had slumped to 29 for 3, their innings firmly on the back foot against a disciplined and incisive Bangladeshi attack.
Jaker chooses to field as Litton remains sidelined against Pakistan
Bangladesh captain Jaker Ali won the toss and chose to bowl first against Pakistan, with Litton Das still absent from the side. Jaker explained that his team has been successful bowling first in recent matches and would look to continue that trend. He also pointed to a dry surface, while noting that their ambition to win the tournament had not changed. Bangladesh made three changes, bringing in Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed and Nurul Hasan in place of Saifuddin, Nasum Ahmed and Tanzid Hasan.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha said he would have batted first regardless. He noted that whenever Pakistan have scored well, they have performed strongly, adding that the team is riding high on confidence after their win over Sri Lanka. Pakistan named an unchanged side.
Earlier, Waqar Younis and Simon Doull assessed the pitch, highlighting a good covering of grass that could provide movement for seamers early on. With cooler weather and some moisture in the air, swing and seam are expected in the powerplay overs.
Bangladesh XI: Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali (capt & wk), Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.
Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (capt), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
