Dhaka: Bangladesh reached its first Asia Cup final when it cruised past Sri Lanka by five wickets with nearly three overs to spare in a rain-disrupted match on Tuesday.Bangladesh will meet Pakistan in the final on Thursday at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium having upset both finalists from last year’s World Cup.
Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal plays a shot during the Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka in Dhaka.
Cricket Desk: A new chapter in the history of Bangladesh cricket was opened today, as they shed the "minnows" tag and entered the Asia Cup final in style with a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka.
This is the first time, Bangladesh entered the final of a major tournament and they will cherish the day forever. They had beaten World Champions India in the last game and today they beat the World Cup runners-up Sri Lanka. This is the first time Sri Lanka did not reach the Asia Cup final.
Mirpur: As he struck his third century in the last four innings, India vice-captain Virat Kohli said his 183-run knock against Pakistan today’s was “special” and that he has learned to value his wicket.
Kohli had scored an unbeaten 133 against Sri Lanka in Hobart when India chased 321 with 80 balls to spare in the tri-series but the young Indian said the knock against Pakistan was more special.
India's Virat Kohli bats against Pakistan during their Asia Cup match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. (AFP Photo)
NEW DELHI: Led by Virat Kohli's magnificent 183, India stayed in contention of the Asia Cup final berth as they crushed arch-rivals Pakistan by six wickets at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.
If Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka on Tuesday, then the hosts will go through to the final.
India chased down the 330-run victory target in 47.5 overs to register their highest successful run chase ever.
Kohli's magnificent 183 came off 148 balls and was studded with a six and 22 fours. Kohli fell when he edged a Umar Gul delivery high up in the air for Mohammad Hafeez to take the catch at point.
Most of the private clubs, gymkhanas, restaurant owners and public parks have announced they would be screening the Ind-Pak match on the big screen to lure the customers. (TOI Photo)
KARACHI: With less than 24 hours remaining for Asia Cup's marquee match between Pakistanand India, entrepreneurs are gearing up to cash in on the huge interest surrounding the match.
Most of the private clubs, gymkhanas, restaurant owners and public parks have announced they would be screening the match on the big screen to lure the customers.
Sachin Tendulkar points to the Indian crest on his helmet after creating history at the Asia Cup in Mirpur. After waiting more than a year, he finally scored his 100th international century. (AFP Photo)
MIRPUR: It was a match of "mixed emotions" for Sachin Tendulkar after Bangladesh upset India even as the batsman himself conquered an elusive personal summit.
Sachin reached the 100th hundred milestone with probably the most lustily cheered single of his career - a clip towards square leg off the bowling of Shakib-al Hasan, but the celebration was muted, just a characteristic look skywards with arms raised and a kiss planted on the India logo on the helmet.
Cricket Desk: The myth says that whenever Sachin scored a century in ODIs (barring a few occasions), India lost the match. The same happened today, as Bangladesh stunned India by 5 wickets in Asia Cup.
Bangladesh played as a team and all batsmen contributed up to their potential to chase down a mammoth total of 290 with four balls to spare. Team India were left shell-shocked, while Sachin Tendulkar's 100th international hundred went in vain. Bangladesh beat India after a gap of five years. Last time, they won in 2007 World Cup.
Sachin Tendulkar raised his helmet to the dressing room after reaching his 100th international century
Sachin Tendulkar became
the first batsman to make a 100 international centuries, getting to the
milestone against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla stadium in Mirpur at
5:05pm local time on March 16, 2012. It ended a year-long wait for one
of the most discussed landmarks in cricket history, and was his first
ODI hundred against Bangladesh, completing his set of centuries against
every Full Member country in both Tests and ODIs.
He
reached the 100th hundred in the 44th over with a nudge behind square
leg, one of his favoured strokes to reach a century. Despite the huge
amount of hype surrounding the landmark, which has shown little sign of
abating despite the prolonged wait, there was no over-the-top
celebration. The helmet came off and there was a wave of the bat, he
looked up at the sky, as he usually does on reaching a hundred, and he
acknowledged his team-mates by raising his helmet towards the dressing
room. Several of the Bangladesh fielders congratulated him, even as the
decibel-level in the packed stadium reached new highs.
Watch the video Sachin Tendulkar Made His 100th Century! ******
*****
It
was not one of Tendulkar's most swashbuckling innings, more about
efficient accumulation early on, before slowing down further as he
neared the century, finally completing it off 138
Sachin Tendulkar's 100th A century of centuries for Tendulkar!!!
Bangladesh v India, Asia Cup, Mirpur
Tendulkar scores his 100th international century
Sachin Tendulkar flicks one away, Bangladesh v India, Asia Cup, Mirpur, March 16, 2012
Sachin Tendulkar has
scored his 100th international century, in India's Asia Cup ODI against
Bangladesh in Mirpur. The unprecedented landmark was achieved after 33
international innings without a hundred. It was Tendulkar's 49th ODI
century, his first against Bangladesh, to go with his 51 Test hundreds.
It
was one of his slower hundreds, as he took 138 balls to reach the
hundred. The hype over Tendulkar's 100th international century begun
during last year's World Cup, when two hundreds in the group stages put
him on 99 international hundreds. However, he failed to get to three
figures on India's tour of England, the home series against West Indies
and the tour of Australia, and has finally achieved the feat in
Bangladesh.
Asia Cup - 3rd match Pakistan v Sri Lanka Pakistan won by 6 wickets (with 61 balls remaining)
Sri Lanka 188/10 (45.4)
Pakistan 189/4 (39.5)
Presentation ceremony:
Aizaz
Cheema watches as Mahela Jayawardene offers a catch to the off side,
Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Asia Cup, Mirpur, March 15, 2012
Aizaz Cheema is the Man of the Match
for his four wickets. Cheema: "I was under lot of pressure but captain
came to me and said bowl attacking deliveries and don't worry. With the
new ball, I thought it would come on to the bat even if I bowled the
slower one, so I kept it for later.
Virat Kohli leaps after completing his century, India v Sri Lanka, Asia Cup, Mirpur, March 13, 2012
Virat is the Man of the Match.
Virat: "To be able to adjust so quickly from Australia is very
satisfying because of the different conditions. We [Gautam and I] have
got a lot of big stands between us. We understand each others' games
really well. We don't have to tell each other what to do. It is very
satisfying when the wicket is slow, you have to control your urge to hit
a boundary and take the singles. It is just a great honour [the
vice-captaincy], I never expected it at 23." Well said, fiery one.
Dhoni:
"It was difficult at that time when Mahela was batting well. The wicket
changed a bit, it came onto the bat better and they were able to play
their shots. Praveen was having an off day then, they took Jadeja for
runs, so I was actually two bowlers short at that time. And had to get
the part-timers in. But Praveen came back well, and Irfan and Vinay
supported him well. There were not many boundaries in the Virat-Gautam
partnership but they did well to set up a base. It is a tough ground to
defend with quick outfield. Hopefully it won't be as easy to bat in the
second innings as it is now as the tournament goes on. It is not that we
played badly against Sri Lanka [in Australia]."
Mahela:
"When you are chasing something like that, the guys who get starts have
to finish off. Pretty bad shot from me. We chased really well, nothing
wrong with the wicket. We needed to finish the chase which we did not
do. Initially they set it up nicely with Gautam and Virat. I thought we
gave away 15-20 runs more, it is difficult to bowl to Dhoni and Raina,
our fielding could have been better too. We can take many positives out
of this game. The new guys did well. Suranga bowled well. I have enjoyed
batting up the order. I am more relaxed, I can play my shots It is easy
to bat with Dilshan and it later flows with Sanga. But as I said, I
played a pretty bad shot."
Mohammad Hafeez has been given the Man of the Match award, I thought it'll be Gul. But anyway, that's what the jury has decided. He made 89 and picked up two wickets.
