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

#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.