India Bangladesh Asia Cup Final: Sportsrush presents before you the Top Three Asia Cup final matches being played so far.
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With the 14th edition of the Asia Cup coming to a halt tomorrow, let us walk down the memory lane to revisit three of the best Asia Cup final matches played till now. The first edition of the tournament was played in 1984. Since then, there have been numerous closely fought matches in the Asia Cup.
Below are the Top Three Asia Cup Finals:
1. India vs Pakistan, 1986 – During the final of the Asia Cup 1986 between India and Pakistan at Sharjah, Pakistan had defeated India by 1 wicket in a nerve-wrenching encounter. Imran Khan, the then Pakistan captain, had won the toss and chose to field.
In their allotted quota of 50 overs, India ended up scoring 245-7. Sunil Gavaskar, who opened the batting with Kris Srikkanth, top-scored for India. He scored 92 (134) with the help of six fours. It was Wasim Akram’s bowling figures of 10-1-42-3 which majorly reduced India from 216-1 to 245-7.
The Indian bowlers had by and large restricted the opposition under what they had required to win. That being said, legendary Pakistan batsman Javed Miandad had other plans as he hit a last-ball six to Chetan Sharma to seal a dramatic chase for his team. In which was Miandad’s third ODI century, he ended up scoring 116* (114) with the help of three fours and three sixes.
- India vs Sri Lanka, 1997 – During the final of the Asia Cup 1997 between India and Sri Lanka at Colombo, Sri Lanka had defeated India by 8 wickets. Sachin Tendulkar, the then India captain, had won the toss and chose to bat.
In their allotted quota of 50 overs, India ended up scoring 239-7. Mohammad Azharuddin, who came in to bat at No. 5, top-scored for India, scoring 81 (102) with the help of one four and two sixes. Chaminda Vaas (8-1-32-2), who opened the bowling for Sri Lanka, was their pick of the bowlers.
These were the times when the Sri Lankan openers had started to dictate the game at the top of the order. Sanath Jayasuriya’s 52-ball 63 laid the best path for his team to chase the total. Half-centuries from Marvan Atapattu (84) and captain Arjuna Ranatunga (62) made sure that Sri Lanka won the match in the 37th over.
- Bangladesh vs Pakistan, 2012 – During the final of the Asia Cup 2012 between Bangladesh and Pakistan at Dhaka, Pakistan had defeated Bangladesh by 2 runs in a tense finish. Mushfiqur Rahim, the then Bangladesh captain, had won the toss and chose to field.
The Pakistani batsman got starts, but none of them was able to convert it into a substantial innings. Pakistan scored a below par 236-9 in 50 overs. Sarfraz Ahmed, who came in to bat at No. 8, top-scoring for his team, scoring 46* (69) with the help of four fours. With bowling figures of 10-3-26-2, Abdur Razzak was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers.
Bangladesh got off to a positive start which was followed a flurry of wickets. They even had an 89-run partnership for the fourth wicket but Pakistan emerged out as the better teams in terms of handling the pressure of a nervous situation in a big final.
Shakib Al Hasan, who came in to bat at No. 5, ended up scoring 68 (95) with the help of seven fours and a six. With bowling figures of 10-0-46-3, Aizaz Cheema was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers. Shahid Afridi was adjourned the ‘Man of the Match’ for his all-round performance (32 runs with the bat and 10-1-28-1 with the ball).
With India and Bangladesh set to play the final of the Asia Cup tomorrow, here is expecting another nail-biting encounter on the big day.
