||Desk Report||

Bangladesh Emerging Team have qualified for the semi-finals in the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup by defeating hosts Pakistan in the third and final group match. The Pakistani side have also qualified for the semi-finals despite the 84-run loss on Sunday (December 9).

Bangladesh, who were defeated by the UAE in the opening game, made a strong comeback to stay alive in the competition, as they defeated Hong Kong in their second match. The 28-run win, however, was not enough, since Bangladesh needed an emphatic victory in the last game to make it to the top two in the group, due to an inferior run rate.

The Nurul Hasan-led side started positively, as Mizanur Rahman sharing a 48-run opening stand with Zakir Hasan, before getting out for 25 runs. Zakir continued the process of establishing their dominance in the match, by forming another partnership of 98 runs with Nazmul Hossain Shanto.

Pakistan’s Muhmmad Musa struck a brace to dismiss Zakir and Shanto, before Khushdil Shah made the opponents endure more difficulties, by removing Afif Hossain.

Mosaddek Hossain, the centurion from Bangladesh’s victory over Hong Kong, helped his side to recover from the mini-collapse, countering Pakistan’s threat. He, along with Yasir Ali, added 126 runs for the fifth wicket.

Yasir made 56 runs before returning to the pavilion. Mosaddek, on the other hand, remained unbeaten till the end and safely lifted the total past 300 runs, with a crucial 74-ball knock of 85 runs.

Nayeem Hasan, who recently made headlines by being the youngest debutant to take a fifer in Test cricket, gave Bangladesh their desired start with the ball, making Pakistan two down for 23.

The batting side, however, restored the innings, with skipper Mohammad Rizwan sharing an 88-run partnership with opener Zeeshan Malik. Both the batsmen were out putting up 40-plus scores and Pakistan could not recover from there.

Khushdil, who took three wickets with the ball, fought a lone-battle, scoring 61 runs while the procession of batsmen continued at the other end. He was the ninth batsmen to get out as Pakistan failed to avoid the big defeat coming their way.