5 best moments from the Asia Cup 2016

The Asia Cup has just come to an end and MS Dhoni's men who started the tournament as firm favourites have delivered. Both India and the runners-up Bangladesh have played some memorable cricket in the tournament even though the hosts were beaten by a superior team on the day. The teams now will prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup with India as one of the favourites to lift the title on home soil.The Asia Cup has been an engrossing tournament where teams have evenly competed for pride, honour and glory. Let us look at the 5 best moments from this year's Asia Cup.

#5 Sami\'s disastrous no-balls leading to a famous Bangladeshi win

Sami’s over cost Pakistan dearly

Sami's recall to the Pakistani team has naturally been treated with a lot of scepticism from some quarters and the veteran pacer has not done much to dispel such doubts. He has looked the weakling in the Pakistani attack beside the likes of Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Irfan.

But he ended all hopes of Pakistan making it to the final by bowling a disastrous 19th over in a crucial tie against Bangladesh. Sami came on to bowl with Bangladesh needing 18 runs to win off 12 balls. Sami's first three balls were decent deliveries but ended by conceding 15 runs off that over.

He bowled two no-balls in that over one of which was edged by Mortaza for a boundary. The match decisively tipped the scales in favour of Bangladesh and effectively knocked Pakistan out of the Asia Cup.

Sami has received a lot of flak for the no-balls that cost Pakistan the match. But it was a great moment of pride and honour for Mortaza's men as they took another step towards the much-coveted trophy.

#4 When Kohli withered the Amir storm

Virat stood strong amidst Amir’s brilliant spell

When Pakistan ended up scoring a meagre 83 against India, everyone thought the match was as good as over. That was until Mohammad Amir decided to turn up and bowl one of the dream spells of his lifetime.

Bowling with pace and vicious swing, he dismissed Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane in the first over. When he managed to remove Suresh Raina later, he had figures of 3 for 3. Amir was breathing fire, baying for blood. Only Virat Kohli stood in the way of an unlikely upset.

Amir ran in, hit the deck hard and swung the ball. Kohli just calmly stood his ground quietly acknowledging the brilliance of Amir and even congratulating him for such a surreal spell. The Kohli versus Amir dwell was one of the high points of the tournament.

Gradually, Kohli withered the storm and guided India to a famous win. Kohli and Amir were seen congratulating each other after the match, once again acknowledging each other's brilliance. That was sportsmanship spirit at its best.

#3 Yuvraj\'s consecutive sixes against Herath

Yuvraj Singh showed glimpses of his old self

Chasing a modest Sri Lankan total of 138, the Indian team was in a spot of bother as they were reduced to 16 for 2 in the 4th over. Raina and Kohli steadied the ship and when Raina departed in the 12th over, the stage was set for a special innings from Yuvraj Singh.

Yuvraj did not disappoint. He was particularly merciless on Rangana Herath as he lifted him for two effortless sixes. The first one was flicked over mid-wicket while the next six was a flat hit over long on. The sheer effortlessness and the strong bottom hand showed trademark signs of Yuvraj being back in form.

He played a crucial knock of 35 off 18 balls as India coasted to victory in the end. Speaking later to bcci.tv, Yuvraj said, "I told myself that if a left-arm spinner is bowling, then I am going to go and attack straight away.

"Any left-hand batsman who can hit sixes will go after left-arm spin … Tonight I just wanted to be positive and hit the ball straight away and deliver for the team."

#2 Sabbir\'s masterclass

Sabbir played an incredible knock against Sri Lanka

Bangladesh showed once again in the tournament how much they have come of age by beating rivals Pakistan and Sri Lanka en route to their final. But it could have been a different story against Sri Lanka as the hosts were reduced to 26 for 3 until their innings was resurrected by Sabbir Rahman.

His counter-attacking innings started when he came hard against Nuwan Kulasekara in the 4th over dispatching him for three fours and a six. A Thisara Perera-over yielded 14 runs and Sabbir was truly leading the onslaught.

From short-arm jabs to fast bowlers being swept for sixes, Sabbir played a memorable career-best knock of 80 off 54 balls. It was a one-man show as he single-handedly scored 74 percent of the team total of 147. Sri Lanka could only manage 124 in response.

#1 The Dhoni dhamaka

Dhoni was at his best against Bangladesh

Just as classical Hollywood westerns end with a kiss, Indian cricket fairytales now never fail to end without a six from Dhoni's bat. Kohli and Dhawan had laid the groundwork for the victory in the final when the stage was set for theatrics. In walked MS Dhoni at number four.

Al-Amin Hossain, who had bowled well, so far, came in to bowl the 14th over with India needing 19 runs to win off 12 deliveries. MS Dhoni teed off and sent the first ball into the stands for a massive 104-metre six.

He then followed it up with a boundary and another massive six in that over to win the match for India. It was vintage Dhoni for sure. Gossips of Dhoni no longer being the capable finisher anymore have been put to rest for some time now.