Shikhar Dhawan’s half century helped India clinched the 13th Asia Cup title with an emphatic 8-wicket victory over the hosts Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday. Including this win for their 6th title, T20I top ranked India remained unbeaten throughout this tournament and never lost Bangladesh in the shortest format in their four meetings. Bangladesh finished runners-up for the 2nd time in the Asia Cup after 2012. Replying 120 runs, India drew the winning line scoring 122 for 2 in 13.5 overs in the rain-hit 15-over a side match spurred by the 2nd wicket stand of 94 off 11.1 overs between Dhawan and Virat Kohli. Dhawan top-scored 60 off 44 balls featuring nine boundaries and one six. Dhawan was caught by Soumya Sarkar off Taskin Ahmed delivery at 99/2 in 12.4 overs. Kohli hit not out 41 off 28 balls including five fours while skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni added unbeaten 20 off 6 balls with one boundary and two sixes. Pacer Al Amin Hossain made the breakthrough dismissing Rohit Sharma who was caught by Soumya Sarkar at 5/1 in 1.3 overs. Taskin and Al Amin took one wicket each for 14 and 30 runs. Sent in to bat first, Bangladesh scored 120 for 5 in 15 overs with the unbeaten 6th wicket contribution of 45 runs in 3.2 between Mahmudullah Riyad and Sabbir Rahman. Finisher Mahmudullah hammered the highest 33 off 13 balls including two boundaries and two sixes. Sabbir Rahman companied Mahmudullah till the end to add 32 off 29 balls involving two boundaries. In the innings’ 14th over, Mahmudulla hammered 20 runs including one boundary and two sixes, off Hardik Pandy’s 3rd over. Famed all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan stayed for 21 off 16 balls including three boundaries and was caught by Jasprit Bumrah off Ravichandran Ashwin at 64/3 in 9.1 overs. Bangladesh faced early jolt losing their two batsmen Soumya Sarkar and Tamim Iqbal for 30/2 in 4.4 overs. Soumya scored 14 off 9 balls including three boundaries and while experienced opener Tamim Iqbal added 13 off 17 balls including two boundaries. Soumya was caught by Hardik Pandya off an Ashish Nehra delivery at at 27/1 in 4 overs while Tamim was lbw by Jasprit Bumrah at 30/2 in 4.4 overs. Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Ashish Nehra took one wicket each for 13, 14 25 and 33 runs respectively.—UNB, Dhaka
