Another disappointment as Bangladesh Emerging lose final at home

Another final, another disappointment for Bangladesh. This was the tale in the final of the ACC Emerging Cup 2019, where Bangladesh were beaten by Pakistan by 77 runs. 

Batting first, Pakistan set a mammoth target of 302 for the emerging Tigers. In reply, Bangladesh lost wickets in regular intervals and were never in the game. In the end, they tumbled out for 224 to hand Pakistan Emerging Team big win of 77 runs. Rohail Nazir was adjudged Man of the Match for his outstanding 113 which lay the foundation for Pakistan's mammoth total.  

Bangladesh were off to a flyer as Soumya hit a boundary through long-off in the second over, and then followed it with a six through mid-wicket and a four through extra cover in the next. But it was a shot too many as he tried another ambitious shot off Sameen Gul, only managing to give an easy catch to first slip. Soumya was gone for 15 off six deliveries and the side was down to 23-1. 

Skipper Nazmul walked in and hit Samin for two consecutive boundaries, first one flying off the edge to third man and the second one a meticulous flick through mid-wicket. 

Naim Sheikh hit a six off Mohammad Hasnain with a brilliant flick but was caught at mid-on trying to pull a short ball as he returned for 16 to reduce the side to 41-2. 

Shanto managed to steady the ship with Yasir as they milked runs to keep the scoreboard ticking as well as keeping the asking rate within range. But their 51-run stand was broken by Amad Butt as he trapped Yasir LBW on 22 to reduce Bangladesh Emerging to 92-3. 

The Pakistan bowlers kept on putting pressure to thwart the flow of runs and with that, the asking run rate crept up. Skipper Shanto tried to accelerate, but in this process fell prey to Khushdil as he tried to sweep him over fine leg but only managed to get caught at short fine leg on 47. Nazmul's wicket meant that Bangladesh was 119-4 and the team was by now, drifting away from victory. 

As the skipper returned to the pavilion, so did the runs. The runs were coming in ebb and flow in the fifth wicket partnership, as both Afif Hossain and Zakir Hasan found it difficult to score. 

Afif looked to accelerate with a couple of boundaries but again was interrupted as Zakir Hasan was out in a similar fashion to his skipper. He was also caught at fine leg trying to sweep Umer Khan for nine. 

Mahidul Islam Ankon did not last long either, as he went begging after trying to pull one through mid-wicket but managing to only find long-on. 

Afif managed to knot a 48-run stand with Mahedi Hasan, but the lack of singles meant the boundaries could not compensate and the asking rate kept going up. The partnership broke when Afif was caught brilliantly on 49 at the third man boundary by Sameen Gul off Mohammad Hasnain as Bangladesh Emerging's hope for victory were extinguished. 

Saif Badar sent Sumon Khan back for three when he was trapped LBW. Mahedi on the other end fought a lone battle but was sent back by the same bowler on 42. 

Bangladesh Emerging were finally all out for 224 when Hasan Mahmud was bowled by Hasnain. 

Afif top-scored for Bangladesh with 49 with Nazmul and Mahedi scoring 46 and 42 respectively. Mohammad Hasnain picked up three wickets for Pakistan Emerging with Khushdil and Saif picking up two. Sameen Gul, Amad Butt and Umer Khan picked up an wicket each.

Earlier,  after winning the toss, Bangladesh skipper Nazmul Hossain Shanto invited the Pakistan Emerging Team to bat first. 

The decision looked right as Sumon Khan removed Pakistan opener Omair Yousuf in the sixth over for four. Sumon struck again in the eighth over to remove the other opener, Haider Ali for 26. But Rohail Nazir and Imran Rafiq put up a strong stand of 117 runs to ensure that they came out of the loss and were on the way to post a strong total. Imran was finally sent back by Mahedi Hasan as he was caught by Soumya Sarkar on 62. 

Yet Rohail did not flinch and continued on his merry way to pick up his hundred. He, along with his skipper Saud Shakeel, started accelerating after the 35th over. But Hasan struck in the 45th over to trap the centurion Rohail LBW for 113 and broke the 85-run stand. Rohail tried to slog a slower from Hasan but missed it altogether to see himself go back to the pavilion. 

Khushdil Shah came in at No.6 and started blasting all over the park, but gave an opportunity in the first delivery of the 49th over as he skied a delivery from Hasan. But Yasir Ali Chowdhury at mid-off dropped a dolly as he misjudged the flight of the ball. But his luck ran out the very next ball as he was caught by skipper Nazmul at extra cover for 27. 

Yasir managed to miss another dolly in the final over to make his count of missed catches three. There was an opportunity for a run out in the same delivery, but keeper Zakir Hasan managed to break the stumps without grabbing the ball as skipper Saud had another life. Saud was eventually out in the same over as he was caught at short third man by Tanvir for 42. 

Still, Pakistan managed to end on 301 as Amad Butt hit a cameo of 15 runs from seven deliveries. 

Sumon Khan picked up three wickets for Bangladesh Emerging but was expensive as he cost 75 runs. Hasan Mahmud picked up a couple of wickets for 52 runs with the other wicket going to Mahedi Hasan. Soumya Sarkar was also expensive as he went wicketless for 75 runs.