Top 3 Most Memorable Matches in Asia Cup in the Last Decade

The battle to be the best in Asia is just about to begin as Sri Lanka will take on Bangladesh in the first match of Asia Cup 2018 at Dubai on Saturday, 15 September 2018. This year, the tournament will return to its original 50-over format having been played as a T20 tournament in 2016 so that teams can get into their groove before the T20 World Cup 2016.

The defending champions, India, will begin their campaign on Tuesday, 18 September 2018 against Hong Kong under the leadership of Rohit Sharma with selectors opting to give Virat Kohli a rest due to his heavy workload.

There have been many memorable matches which have been played in the Asia Cup with players giving their all to get the bragging rights over their neighbours. Here, we are listing down three of the most memorable matches played in the Asia Cup in the last decade.

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#3 Bangladesh vs India, 2012 (Round Robin)

The fourth match of Asia Cup 2012 played between India & Bangladesh became memorable as soon as the Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar reached the milestone of 100 international hundreds.

However, the innings was painstakingly slow as he reached his hundred in 139 balls and just when the master looked to accelerate, Mashrafe Mortaza prized out his wicket. MS Dhoni then gave India the required momentum playing a cameo of 21 runs off just 11 deliveries as India gave Bangladesh a target of 290 runs off 50 overs.

Bangladesh's run chase didn't begin on a positive note as they lost their first wicket in the fifth over itself when their opener Nazimuddin tried coming down the track against Praveen Kumar only to get caught at extra cover by Rohit Sharma.

However, after that rush of blood, Bangladesh played very sensibly as Tamim Iqbal & Jahurul Islam forged a 113 runs partnership to get their innings back on track. But just when it looked as if the match was getting out of India's hands, India scalped both set batsmen within a span of four overs.

However, Shakib Al Hasan & Mushfiqur Rahim got together to get Bangladesh close to the target. Just when everyone thought, Shakib will take the match away from India, Ashwin got him stumped by Dhoni with 65 runs still to be scored in eight overs.

India once again started to tighten things up with the scoreboard reading 33 runs required off the last three overs. It was then that Mushfiqur Rahim, the captain, decided to take things into his hands and smashed Irfan Pathan for two consecutive sixes scoring 17 of the 33 runs required and bringing down the equation to only 16 runs required in 2 overs.

Dhoni gave the penultimate over to his best bowler on the day, Praveen Kumar, who crumbled under the pressure and bowled a waist-high full toss, a no ball, which Mushfiqur sliced for four. Mushfiqur sent the next ball into the stands and almost sealed the match for Bangladesh with Mahmudullah getting the honours to finish the match with four balls to spare.

#2 Bangladesh vs Pakistan, 2012 (Final)

New Zealand v Bangladesh - ICC Champions Trophy

Pakistan went into the match as clear favourites as they had beaten Bangladesh in the group stage earlier. However, Bangladeshi were brimming with confidence having beaten India and Sri Lanka in back-to-back matches and reaching their first ever final of Asia of Cup in the process.

The match began with Bangladesh winning the toss and electing to bowl, as they had chased well in the previous two games. Having been put into bat, Pakistan didn't have a good start as they lost Nasir Jamshed and Younis Khan inside first ten overs, only managing to score 43 runs.

Bangladesh was disciplined with the ball and electric in the field putting Pakistan under constant pressure. However, Pakistan has a history of players standing up on the biggest of stages and it was when Sarfaraj Ahmed rose to the occasion scoring 46 not out in 52 deliveries taking Pakistan's score to a defendable 236 runs.

Bangladesh, playing the biggest match in their cricketing history, might have planned not lose early wickets but it also devoid them of any momentum as Nazimuddin, who threw his wicket against India earlier, scored 16 runs off 52 balls, thereby, nullifying Tamim Iqbal's stroke-filled innings of 60 in just 68 balls.

Once Nazimuddin got out, it was expected that Bangladesh will finally play a bit more aggressively, but Nasir Hossain picked up from where Nazimuddin left scoring only 28 runs off 63 deliveries. It was clearly visible, how the Bangladeshi team was crumbling under pressure.

But then their talisman, Shakib Al Hasan showed his class and gave an entire nation a hope, that the match is not over yet by scoring 68 runs off 72 balls. However, Aizaz Cheema bowled Shakib in the 44th over with Bangladesh still requiring 58 off 39. Even the hero from India's match Mushfiqur Rahim couldn't hold his nerve this time around as he holed out in the deep off Aizaz Cheema for just 10 runs.

But, with the crowd's support, Bangladesh kept fighting and brought down the chase to 9 runs off the last over with Mahmudullah on strike. Bangladesh got 2 singles off the first two deliveries, with Mahmudullah missing the third ball which was a brilliantly executed slower ball.

The fourth ball of the over was driven to long-off by Mahmudullah as they somehow sneaked in a double, however, in an attempt to run Mahmudullah out, Sarfaraz Ahmed's attempt to flick the ball on to the stumps went wrong and Mahmudullah due to his inexperience took a third on the resultant overthrow.

The equation came down to 4 off 2, but the problem was Mahmudullah, the last recognized batsman was off strike. Cheema bowled Abdur Razak off the 5th ball and then bowled a brilliant yorker to win the match for Pakistan. It left an entire nation heartbroken as Bangladesh lost their biggest match by just 2 runs.

#1 India vs Pakistan, 2010 (Round Robin)

India v Australia - 1st ODI

The rivalry between India and Pakistan is such that it always brings the best out of players, with the matches most often than not producing high-quality drama and nail-biting finishes. It was one such match played between the arch-rivals in the group stage of Asia Cup, 2010 as Pakistan was playing to keep their chances alive in the tournament and India looking to seal a spot in the final.

The match began with Pakistan winning the toss and electing to bat first. The Shahid Afridi led side went on to have a solid start as the now tainted opener, Salman Butt and Imran Farhat stitched together a partnership of 71 runs in 16 overs. Pakistan was well on course to score 300 as their top 3 gave them a solid platform.

However, India triggered a mini-collapse in the middle overs and brought the match right in balance with Pakistan team reduced to 159-4 from 144-1. Despite, Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal's efforts down the order, Indian bowling was very disciplined as they restricted Pakistan for 267/10 in 49.3 overs. Zaheer Khan was the pick of the bowlers with the figures of 9.3-0-41-2.

India, in reply, began their chase rather cautiously and their job got tougher with Sehwag picking up a hip injury. However, the duo survived the Pakistani storm and managed to score 46 runs without losing any wicket in the first ten overs. However, Sehwag couldn't survive long as he nicked an Abdul Razzak delivery which the keeper grabbed comfortably bringing an end to an innings you just cannot relate to "The Virender Sehwag" (10 runs off 32 balls).

However, his partner in crime, Gautam Gambhir looked in great touch as him and MS Dhoni joined hands to keep India on track and negating Pakistan's quality spin attack. But just when India looked in total control with only 89 required off last 15 overs, Saeed Ajmal bowled Gambhir and kept his side in the contest.

But everyone knew till the time MS Dhoni is at the crease, India is the favourite to win. But just then, India was struck with a double blow. First, Rohit Sharma defence was breached by Shahid Afridi to get him out lbw and in the very next over, Shoaib Malik priced out MSD's wicket in the unlikeliest manner. It was a full toss going down the leg as MS tried to sweep it fine, but unfortunately, he was early in his shot as the ball hit the angular part of the back of the bat and went on to hit the stumps.

After MSD's freakish dismissal, India was under immense pressure as they still required 56 off last 7 overs. By the end of 44 overs, India had managed 218 runs for the loss of 5 wickets with Suresh Raina and Ravinder Jadeja still new to the crease. But as the time was ticking India took batting powerplay and Pakistani captain, Shahid Afridi gave the ball to his best bowler, Shoaib Akhtar.

Akhtar bowled a cracker of an over as he gave only 1 run and it was followed by Saeed Ajmal getting rid of Jadeja in the very first ball of the next over. Everyone supporting India went quiet as they all thought the match is over. Bhajji took a single on the next ball and gave the strike to Raina and within a matter of 4 balls, Raina changed the disappointment into hope.

He used the pace of the ball to perfection and placed the ball between point and third man for four, sneaked in a couple on the fourth delivery, survived an lbw shout on the fifth and smashing the final delivery into the stands for a six. The equation came down to 36 off 4 overs.

Everyone thought Harbhajan should just give the strike to Raina, however, Harbhajan had different plans. He smoked the second delivery of the 47th over from Akhtar for a huge SIX!!! Bhajji couldn't score a run on the 3rd ball as well. But the pressure of an Indo-Pak game was visible as Akhtar's attempted slower delivery went horribly wrong and Raina sneaked in to get a run on the resultant wide. However, Akhtar managed to keep things in control and gave away only 9 runs.

The 48th over was bowled by Mohammed Amir and India managed to get 11 runs from the over with the help of one 4 and 2 wides. By the end of 48th over India needed 16 runs to win and Akhtar was going to bowl the penultimate over. Raina smoked Akhtar for a six off the very 1st delivery, however, Akhtar came back strongly to give away only 9 runs in the over.

But as the pressure intensified on both the sides, Akhtar gave Bhajji an earful before the umpires stepped in. The Last over was again bowled by Amir and Raina could only manage a single on the first ball. India needed 6 off 5. On the next ball, Harbhajan's swing couldn't meet the ball and Raina rushed to get the strike back in desperation only to get run-out as Kamran Akmal's underarm throw crashed the stumps.

Praveen Kumar was the next man in with people losing hope of India's win as the altercation between Akhtar and Bhajji continuing in between. PK managed to place the ball towards third man for a single, however, a fumble from Akhtar gave India the chance to get an extra run. The next ball Praveen got a single and Harbhajan Singh was on strike with India needing 3 off 2.

And that's when came the big moment, Harbhajan Singh absolutely smoked Amir for a huge six of the penultimate ball and seal the match for India and knocked Pakistan out of the tournament. It was absolutely a cracker of a match which reminded the world what an Indo-Pak match is like.