Tigers have sealed a 51-run victory in the must win encounter against UAE in the third Match of Asia Cup.
A tremendous pace attack led by Skipper Mashrafe has been slivered UAE’s breath to chase down the 134-run target.
Al-Amin drew the first blood as he sent back Muhammad Kaleem in a good length delivery in the first over of UAE innings. Kaleem attempted to drag it from there and slog it over the fielder at mid-on. However, Mashrafe, took a step or two to his left and snaffled an easy catch.
Skipper Mashrafe, the Narail Express initiated a jovial wicket taking mood with passion. Mash took Rohan Mustafa, who looked little furious with bat. He was picked in a full length delivery outside.
Mashrafe sent back Shaiman Anwar to the pavilion in another full length delivery on off, a bit of away movement. Anwar goes back but gets a thick leading edge which flies to point who takes a great diving catch.
Mustafizur Rahman, the cutter master initiated a spellbound seventh over. Bundled two UAE batsmen with two consecutive deliveries also created a hat-trick chance.
Shakib Al Hasan picked two wickets while Mahmudullah and Taskin took one wicket each. UAE were all out scoring 82 in the chase.
Bangladesh have set a 134-run target losing eight wickets against UAE in their second encounter at the third match of the Asia Cup where Bangladesh are facing a must-win encounter, in order to make their bid for the finals.
Mohammad Mithun's well-constructed knock ensured the hosts finished with a decent total.
Mithun scored 47 runs off 41 balls hitting four boundaries and two maximums.
Shakib Al Hasan tried to pilot a recovery, but he was chugged down. In the last over, Mahmudullah cracked a few lusty blows to give the bowlers something to defend.
Mahmudullah added 36 important runs facing 27 deliveries smashing one boundary and two maximus.
On the other hand, Naveed and Javed bowled with unremitting control for the UAE. But the fielding was not exactly up to the standards as they dropped quite a few chances. Join us in a while for UAE's innings.
The UAE Cricket Team won the toss earlier and opted to bowl first against the hosts.
Earlier, Bangladesh fell to India's power in the opening match on Wednesday, Rohit Sharma single-handedly turning that match around while UAE came close to upsetting the apple cart on Thursday, in a determined and resolute effort before Lasith Malinga changed that game.
One of these two teams will have to produce a similar display today to turn the fortunes.
Bangladesh have lost three Twenty20 internationals on the bounce, while UAE have won three of their last four T20Is.
The condensed nature of T20 cricket may diminish the gap between a Full Member and an Associate - one big over from a batsman or one little over from a bowler can turn the entire match - but as well as UAE have played to get here, a fourth win in the Asia Cup for them and a fourth loss for Bangladesh seems unlikely.
UAE are also on a proper high; last week they beat Ireland for the first time in over a decade and used that momentum to topple Afghanistan as well.
The main round of the Asia Cup brought the high-rollers to their party and Sri Lanka, after a little careless gambling, cleaned them out.
Bangladesh are making some bold bets themselves: the occasional green pitch, four fast bowlers, a hitter among the top three in their line-up to suit T20 needs.
Their fielding took the shine away from an improved understanding of the shortest format, but luckily for them, changing that is firmly in their hands.
Bangladesh Team Nurul Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim†, Mashrafe Mortaza*, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman
United Arab Emirates Team Rohan Mustafa, Muhammad Kaleem, Mohammad Shahzad, Muhammad Usman, Shaiman Anwar, SP Patil†, Saqlain Haider, Amjad Javed*, Mohammad Naveed, Ahmed Raza, Fahad Tariq