Top 5 encounters in the history of Asia Cup

The 14th edition of Asia Cup kicks off from 15th September with Bangladesh taking on Sri Lanka in the inaugural match in Dubai. It is a six-team event this year as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Hong Kong lock horns over Asian supremacy. The six teams are split into two groups of three teams each. India, Pakistan and Hong Kong feature in Group A while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are kept in Group B.

Apart from the special India-Pakistan clashes, Asia Cup has dished out many unforgettable contests that have kept the fans on the edge of their seats, over the past few years. Here, we take a look at the top five matches played in the history of Asia Cup.

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#5 Bangladesh vs Pakistan in 2014, Pakistan won by three wickets with a ball remaining

After winning the toss and batting first, Bangladesh got off to a stupendous start courtesy a 150-run opening stand between Imrul Kayes and Anamul Haque. The century from Anamul and half-centuries from Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque laid a solid foundation before an excellent cameo from Shakib-al-Hasan ensured Bangladesh registered a mammoth score of 329 runs on the board as the spin duo of Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi leaked runs.

In reply, Pakistan began well as the openers put on 97 runs for the first wicket. However, three wickets fell for just 8 runs and Pakistan was looking down the barrel. Ahmed Shehzad digs deep and went on to complete a fine century to keep Pakistan in the game. Pakistan needed 105 runs from just 52 balls when the fifth wicket fell.

With the match seemingly lost, Afridi smashed 59 off just 25 balls, hitting seven sixes during a 69-run stand for the sixth wicket with Fawad Alam. When Afridi was dismissed, Pakistan still needed 33 off 19 but Fawad stepped up lofting Razzak twice over the midwicket, to help Pakistan clinch the thriller with a ball to spare.

#4 India vs Sri Lanka in 2004, India won by four runs

Batting first, India lost Sachin Tendulkar early but a 134-run stand between Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly laid the foundation for a solid score. A vital cameo from Yuvraj Singh helped India reach a competitive score of 271 from 50 overs.

In reply, India’s nemesis Sanath Jayasuriya stood firm even as Sri Lanka kept losing wickets from the other end. Sri Lanka looked down and out when Mahela Jayawardena fell as the fifth wicket at the score of 134 but a brilliant century partnership between Dilshan and Jayasuriya brought them back in the game. 18 runs were required off the last three overs with four wickets in hand.

Ganguly threw the ball to Sehwag who gobbled up Jayasuriya with a caught and bowled. Irfan Pathan bowled a dream penultimate over to bring the equation down to 11 runs needed off the last over. Zaheer Khan conceded just 6 runs off the last over to complete a stunning victory for Team India.

#3 Bangladesh vs Pakistan in 2012, Pakistan won by two runs

Bangladesh made the final for the first time in Asia Cup history in 2012. In the final, skipper Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and inserted the opposition in to bat. Pakistan’s top order was rocked by some tidy bowling from seamers Mashrafe Mortaza and Nazmul Hossain.

That trend continued as the spin duo of Shakib-al-Hasan and Abdur Razzak kept a tight leash on proceedings. Some runs from the lower middle order ensured that Pakistan put up a below-par score of 236 runs on the board.

In reply, Bangladesh got off to a strong start with the help of a fifty from Tamim Iqbal at the top. However, a middle overs crawl courtesy a 63-ball 28 from Nasir Hossain put the pressure back on Bangladesh. With 47 needed off five overs, Mushfiqur Rahim holed out to deep midwicket.

Mahmudullah and Mashrafe Mortaza smashed Umar Gul for three fours in the 47th over to bring Bangladesh back into the match. With Mahmudullah still around and four runs required off two balls, Abdur Razzak was bowled by Aizaz Cheema and Shahadat Hossain could only muster a leg bye off the last ball. The match ended with tears in the Bangladesh dressing room.

#2 India vs Pakistan in 2010, India won by three wickets with a ball remaining

A typical Indo-Pak encounter that had everything. Verbal duels to go along with a tense chase added to the spectacle. Pakistan had a great start with the bat. Their top order consisting of Salman Butt, Imran Farhat and Shoaib Malik had built a strong platform from where a total of more than 300 was well on the cards, but a collapse in the middle overs brought India back in the game.

It needed a counterattack from Kamran Akmal to lift Pakistan to 267. In reply, India got off to a steady start but lost two wickets in quick succession. A 98-run partnership between Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni brought India into the driver’s seat. The game had its fair share of drama as Kamran Akmal had a confrontation with Gambhir over an appeal for a catch.

A fine spell of spin bowling triggered a middle order collapse. Harbhajan Singh played an excellent knock under pressure which was accompanied by a heated exchange with Shoaib Akhtar. With three needed off the last two balls, Harbhajan clobbered Mohammed Amir for a massive six over deep square leg, triggering wild celebrations in the Indian dressing room.

#1 India vs Pakistan in 2010, Pakistan won by one wicket with two balls remaining

The numero uno spot is occupied by a riveting match between India and Pakistan held in Dhaka in 2014. A young Indian side led by Virat Kohli was inserted into bat by Pakistan. Fifties from Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja helped India post a target of 246 runs for their arch-rivals.

From Pakistani side, Saeed Ajmal was the star of the show as he picked up 3 wickets for just 40 runs. In reply, Pakistan’s charge was led by their top order with Mohammad Hafeez top scoring with 75 runs. With 11 runs required off the last 10 balls, and four wickets still in hand, Pakistan appeared to be cruising home.

However, three wickets fell in quick succession. 10 runs were needed off the final over. Shahid Afridi smashed one over extra cover to raise Pakistani hopes. With only three needed off three, Afridi tried to lift Ashwin out of the park again.

This time he went over long-on, and though he seemed to have miscued it, it too sailed over the rope, clinching a tense win for Pakistan.