Bangladesh registered their first win in the Asia Cup by decimating UAE by 51 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium on Friday.
The packed stadium, which offered its support for the home side by putting on their phone torches, broke into a frenzied celebration as Bangladesh cruised to victory.
The UAE bowlers once again gave a good account of themselves by striking in the middle overs but Mahmudullah (36 n.o.) played a mature innings with Bangladesh stealing 17 runs off the last over. His late thrust after the brisk start by Mohammad Mithun (47) ensured the hosts amassed 133/8 in their 20 overs. Mahmudullah later shone with the ball to conjure figures of two for five.
UAE once again stumbled in their chase with Bangladesh bowlers hunting in pack. Mustafizur Rahman and captain Mashrafe Mortaza led the charge as UAE crumbled to 82 in 17.4 overs.
The minnows lost wickets in regular intervals. Opener Rohan Mustafa and later Muhammad Usman did put up a semblance of fight but couldn’t hold on. Mortaza saw the back of Mustafa who mistimed his attempt to go over third man with Mustafizur taking a clean catch.
Mustafizur then returned to break the back of UAE by dismissing Mohammad Shahzad and wicket-keeper batsman Swapnil Patil in back to back balls of the eighth over. UAE were staring down the barrel at 45/6 befoe Usman counter-attacked but Taskin Ahmed knocked back his off-stump to expedite the outcome. Bangladesh next play Sri Lanka on Sunday.
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