Emerging Cricket: Bangladesh finish runners-up losing to Pakistan

Bangaldesh emerging team lost to Pakistan by 77 runs in the final of ACC Emerging Teams Cup (Under-23) Cricket Championship at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Photo: Prothom Alo
Bangaldesh emerging team lost to Pakistan by 77 runs in the final of ACC Emerging Teams Cup (Under-23) Cricket Championship at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Photo: Prothom Alo

Hosts Bangladesh handed a huge 77-run defeat against Pakistan in the high-scoring final of the eight-nation ACC Emerging Teams Cup (Under-23) Cricket Championship at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday, reports UNB. 


Hosts Bangladesh, which stormed the final with all-win record, had a good opportunity to clinch their maiden title beating Pakistan in the final, but they failed following footprint of their seniors back in 2012.

Earlier in 2012, Bangladesh's dream was shattered as the Tigers suffered a shocking two-run defeat against Pakistan from a winning position in the Asia Cup Cricket final in Dhaka.

Bangladesh emerged unbeaten Group B champions to reach semifinal beating Hong Kong by 9 wickets in the first match, upsetting India by 6 wickets in the 2nd match and Nepal by 8 wickets in the 3rd and last group match .

Later, they reached the final eliminating Afghanistan by 7 wickets in the 2nd semifinal on Thursday last.

In the final, Bangladesh sent Pakistan to bat first after winning the toss.

The two-time runners-up of ACC Emerging Cricket Teams Cup, Pakistan, piled up a massive total of 301 for 6 in 50 overs, featuring a century by Rohail Nazir.

Nazir, was adjudged man of the match, smashed 113 runs off 111 balls, hitting 12 fours and 3 sixes, Imran Rafiq scored 62 off 88 featuring 4 four and 2 sixes while captain Saud Shakeel scored 42 off 40 balls with one four and 2 sixes.

Sumon Khan picked up 3 wickets for 75 while Hasan Mahmud took 2 for 52 runs.
Replying to a huge target of 302 runs, Bangladesh were all out for 224 in 43.3 overs.

Afif Hossain scored team's highest 49 off 53 balls, hitting 4 fours and one six, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto added 46 off 53 smashing 5 fours, Mahedi Hasan scored 42 runs off 45 knocking 2 fours and 3 sixes.

Mohammad Hasnain took 3 wickets for 32, Khushdil Shah and Saif Badar claimed 2 wickets each conceding 39 and 27 runs respectively.

On their way to the final, Pakistan also maintained all-win record in Group A beating Afghanistan by 8 wickets in their first match, Sri Lanka by 90 runs in second match and Oman by 147 runs in their third and last group match.

Pakistan confirmed their spot in the final eliminating arch-rival India by 3 runs in a nerve shattering first semifinal on Wednesday last.