Chasing 125, Bangladesh A came agonizingly close but could not finish the fight, losing seven wickets at 53 and nine at 96, before the last-wicket stand forced the match into a Super Over.
Bangladesh’s ninth wicket fell needing 30 runs off 16 balls, and Pakistan’s victory seemed imminent. Yet a flurry of three sixes in a single over completely changed the scenario. With the valiant effort of pacers Abdul Ghaffar Sakline and Ripon Mondal, the scores were tied, sending the contest into a Super Over. However, Bangladesh A could not complete the comeback.
Pakistan Shaheens (A team) were crowned champions of the Asian Cricket Council Rising Stars Tournament, defeating Bangladesh in a Super Over in the final.
In Doha on Sunday, Bangladesh had earlier restricted Pakistan to 125 with a combined pace and spin effort. In response, Akbar Ali’s side seemed on the brink of defeat, losing seven wickets for 53 runs and nine for 96. But the skill and composure of the last two batsmen brought the match to a tie.
In the Super Over, Habibur Rahman Sohan opened alongside Sakline, who had scored 16 off 12 balls in the main match hitting two sixes. Sakline fell on Ahmed Daniel’s first ball after taking a single. Bangladesh added five runs from the next delivery via a wide and bye. However, Zisan Alam bowled the third ball to end the over, and Bangladesh could manage only six runs in total.
Ripon, who had earlier bowled a perfect Super Over in the semi-final against India taking two wickets in two balls to keep India scoreless, could not replicate the feat this time. His first two balls conceded two runs. On the third, Saad Masud smashed a full toss for four over deep square leg. The fourth delivery yielded one run, bringing jubilation for him and his team.
Though the end was disappointing, Bangladesh began their campaign at Doha’s West End Park International Cricket Stadium like a dream after winning the toss and opting to bowl. On Ripon’s first delivery, Yasir Khan tried to take a single by nudging the ball toward mid-on. He ran only a short distance before Sakline collected the ball and executed a direct throw to run him out.
In the next over, left-spinner all-rounder SM Mehrab deceived Mohammad Faiq with his first delivery, bowling him out. Bangladesh had two wickets for just two runs.
In the fifth over, left-arm spinner Rokibul Hasan made an impact with his first ball, bowling out Ghazi Ghori.
Maj Sadakat attempted a counter-attack, hitting two fours and a six, but on the very next ball, Zisan Alam bowled him for 23 off 18 balls, exacting revenge. One over later, Bangladesh could have taken another wicket, but Zisan dropped an easy catch at mid-off.
Minhas, after surviving a chance, could manage only five more runs, scoring 25 off 23 balls before being bowled by Sakline in the next over. Captain Irfan Khan fell for 9 off 22 balls, giving Rokibul his second wicket.
At 75 for six, Pakistan managed to rebuild some stability thanks to Masud’s 38 off 26 balls.
In the penultimate over, Ripon claimed three wickets while conceding just two runs. Rokibul finished with two wickets for 16 runs in four overs.
Brief Scores
- Pakistan A: 125 in 20 overs (Yasir 0, Sadakat 23, Faiq 0, Ghazi 9, Minhas 25, Irfan 9, Masud 38, Aziz 9, Daniel 2, Ubaid 0, Muqim 4*; Ripon 4-0-25-3, Mehrab 4-0-28-1, Rokibul 4-0-16-2, Zisan 1-0-9-1, Sakline 4-0-27-1, Mahfuzur 3-0-17-0)
- Bangladesh A: 125/9 in 20 overs (Sohan 26, Zisan 6, Mahidul 0, Yasir 8, Akbar 2, Mehrab 19, Mahfuzur 3, Mrityunjay 0, Rokibul 24, Sakline 16*, Ripon 11*; Ubaid 1-0-7-0, Aziz 4-0-47-0, Minhas 2-0-5-2, Masud 3-0-33-1, Sadakat 2-0-7-1, Muqim 4-0-11-3, Daniel 4-0-11-2)
Result: Match tied, Pakistan A win Super Over to claim the championship
