Top 5 Performances from 2018 Asia Cup

The 2018 Asia Cup finally came to end when India defeated Bangladesh on the last ball of the match in a nail-biter of a final. Just like the final the tournament was filled with some really exciting and breathtaking performances which made our jaws drop in awe.

There were some gritty innings by associate nation batsmen, some amazing displays of bowling by players returning to the international stage and some performances by top players that reminded us why they are so special after all.

Here are the top 5 performances from the 2018 Asia Cup:

#5 Malinga returns to international cricket with a bang:

Malinga returned to international cricket after a 1 year absence and started off in a way only Lasith Malinga can with a double wicket first over against Bangladesh as he removed Liton Das and Shakib-Al-Hasan off consecutive deliveries to leave the Tigers tottering at 2 for 1.

He continued his dominance over the Bangladeshi batsmen throughout the match as he never allowed more than 5 runs in an over in his full quota of 10 overs and finished with figures of 10-2-23-4.

Malinga's figures were the best by any bowler in the match but alas he had to contend with a loss as the Sri Lankan batsmen failed to turn up for the contest and folded for a paltry score of 124 to lose the match by 137 runs.

#4 Nizakat Khan's brilliant 92 nearly upsets India:

Nizakat Khan

India's Asia Cup opener was against minnows Hong Kong, who were considered no more than pushovers against a star-studded Indian lineup but what unraveled over 8 hours was nothing short of a miracle.

Batting first India set a mammoth target of 286 and looked all set to cruise to an easy victory but opening batsman Nizakat Khan had other ideas as he along with his partner Anshuman Rath set an opening partnership of 174 runs.

Nizakat hit some crisp cover drives and cheeky leg glances as he notched 12 boundaries and 1 maximum in his brilliant knock of 92. Even though he could not win the match for Hong Kong, Nizakat surely made everyone notice him.

#3 Rashid Khan's all-round show dismantles Bangladesh:

Rashid Khan

Since his arrival in the IPL in 2017, Rashid Khan has managed to dominate international cricket like no one else, all at the paltry age of 20. He is the fastest player to 100 ODI wickets and is tied 2nd in T20Is.

Coming into the Asia Cup, a lot of people had their eyes set on Rashid Khan and he did not disappoint, finishing the group stages and super 4s as the highest wicket-taker with 10 scalps.

His performance against Bangladesh in the group stage was the cherry on top. Batting first Afghanistan were in a spot of bother when Rashid Khan stepped onto the pitch in the 41st over with the scoreboard reading 160-7. By the end of 50 overs, they finished with 255-7, in which Rashid had a contribution of 57 off 32 balls.

He returned to torment the Bangladeshis with his bowling as he picked up 2 wickets in 9 overs giving up just 13 runs in the process as Afghanistan won by a massive 136 runs.

#2 Mohammad Shahzad's MOTM performance in a tied game:

Mohammad Shahzad

The match between India and Afghanistan will be remembered as one of the classic nail-biters in cricketing history and it would not have been possible if it were not for a whirlwind batting display by one of Afghanistan's mainstays Mohammad Shahzad.

Shahzad, who idolizes Dhoni and also shares the same initials 'MS', played a stunner of a knock as his idol watched from behind the stumps. He scored 124 off 116 balls including 11 fours and 7 sixes. When he was dismissed Afghanistan were still tottering at 180-6 and he had scored 69% of the team's runs.

Shahzad was awarded the Man of the Match for his brilliant knock.

#1 Mushfiqur Rahim rallies his team to victory:

Mushfiqur Rahim

Playing the opener of the 2018 Asia Cup, Bangladesh were tottering at 2-1 after the 1st over due to two Lasith Malinga strikes, and out walked Bangladeshi batting legend Mushfiqur Rahim with a job in hand to bring his team out of danger.

Sri Lanka is Mushfiqur's kryptonite he averages a dismal 19.33 across 25 innings, his lowest against any nation, hence the Lions were ready to pounce on him with a hot and steaming Lasith Malinga but alas what unfolded over a period of 3+ hours was an innings filled with brilliance, grit and determination.

Mushfiqur dragged the Bangladeshi Tigers from a score of 1-2 to 261-10 in which he had a major contribution of 144 runs off 150 balls.