Asia Cup Game 3 Report: Batting collapse costs UAE another contest

Tags: Asia Cup T20 2016, Bangladesh vs United Arab Emirates 3rd Match at Dhaka,Feb 26, 2016, Bangladesh, UAE, Mohammad Mithun Ali, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Amjad Javed, Mohammad Naveed Saleem, Muhammad Usman, T20I

Published on: Feb 27, 2016

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

For the second time in two days, UAE's bowlers put up a disciplined effort to restrict the opponents, bowling first, but for the second time in as many days, their batsmen came unstuck chasing what have been rather simple targets.

For the second time in two days, UAE's bowlers put up a disciplined effort to restrict the opponents, bowling first, but for the second time in as many days, their batsmen came unstuck chasing what have been rather simple targets. It was déjà vu of sorts as UAE took on Bangladesh. Once again, the opponents got off to an impressive start, before the UAE bowlers pulled them back with some tight bowling. Mohammad Naveed and Amjad Javed were again among the wickets, as Bangladesh ended up making only 133 in their 20 overs. But, UAE fared worse with the bat, and this time there was no bright spot, as was the case with Swapnil Patil in the previous game.

UAE's needed a decent start to give them confidence of chasing the target, but that wasn't to be the case. Muhammad Kaleem was sent back by the ever-improving Al-Amin Hossain for a duck, in the second over of the chase. Rohan Mustafa took on the bowling, and hit a couple of fours and a six, but the experience of Mashrafe Mortaza eventually got the better of him. Mortaza claimed another big scalp when he had Shaiman Anwar caught for a duck. Mohammad Shahzad looked good during the brief while that he was at the crease, but was caught and bowled by Mustafizur Rahman having hit a run-a-ball 12.

UAE's faint hopes now rested with last game's hero Patil, but their woes were only to get worse as the in-form wicket-keeper bat went back without scoring. He was caught by Bangladesh skipper Mortaza first ball, Mustafizur being the successful bowler once again. With Patil's exit, UAE had lost half their side for 34 in the 8th over. Muhammed Usman briefly played the kind of innings that Patil did against Sri Lanka. But, just as in the previous game, there was no halt on the fall of wickets from the other end. The score soon read 8 for 55, and Usman fell for a run-a-ball 30, leaving the team in further disarray at 71 for 9. The end came at 82.

Earlier, Bangladesh's openers were off to an steady start, adding 46 in 5.2 overs. Mohammad Mithun, who was dismissed cheaply in the previous game, made amends with a quick 47 from 41 balls. He slammed four fours and two sixes, before being run out. Sarkar was first to fall, having raced to 21 from 14. He fell victim to Shahzad, caught by Javed. Sabbir Rahman, who was the sole saving grace for Bangladesh with the bat against India, fell early this time. He was sent back by Mustafa for 6 from 12. Another big blow came when Naveed had Mushfiqur Rahim caught behind for 4.

At 83 for 4, Bangladesh's innings was going nowhere, and they were in desperate need of a partnership. A lot depended on Shakib Al Hasan, but he was cleaned up for a run-a-ball 13 by Javed, an innings which was hardly convincing. If at all Bangladesh managed to reach a somewhat respectable score, it was thanks to a late flourish by Mahmudullah, who made an unbeaten 36 from 27 balls with a four and two sixes. The sixth and seventh wicket fell in the space of two runs, so Mahmudullah needed some special skills to take Bangladesh to respectability. In the end, his knock made the big difference.

-- By A Cricket Correspondent

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