DHAKA: Upcoming wicket-keeper/batsman Rohail Nazir dazzled with a century while inspiring Pakistan to a clinical 77-run rout of Bangladesh in the final of the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium here on Saturday.

Pakistan, were put into bat by Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, lost Omair Bin Yousuf (4) and Haider (26 off 23 balls) with 41 runs on the board in the eighth over.

After the departure of the opening pair, Imran Rafiq joined Rohail to put on a splendid 117-run partnership for the third wicket. Imran struck four fours and a brace of sixes in scoring 62 from 88 deliveries.

Pakistan captain Saud Shakeel contributed 42 (40 balls, two sixes and one four) while adding 85 with the well-set Rohail who was the next to go after making 133 off 111 balls with the help of 12 fours and three sixes.

Khushdil Shah (27 off 16, two sixes and one four) and fellow all-rounder Amad Butt (15 not out off seven, one six and one four) ensured post 301-6 in 50 overs.

Pacemen Sumon Khan picked three wickets for 75 runs and Hasan Mahmud took 2-52.

Bangladesh were never in the hunt for the formidable chase of 302 and were all out or 224 in 43.3 overs.

Afif Hossain was the top-scorer with a 53-ball 4 (four fours and a six), while Najmul Hossain made 46 (53 balls, five boundaries) and Mahedi Hasan 42 (45 balls, three sixes and two four fours).

Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain took three wickets for 32 runs in 8.3 overs. Khushdil Shah and Saif Badar chipped in with two wickets apiece for 39 and 27 runs, respectively.

Rohail was late adjudged man-of-the-match with Bangladesh’s na­med player-of-the-series.

PAKISTAN:

Omair Bin Yousuf c Mahidul b Sumon 4

Haider Ali c Naim b Sumon 26

Rohail Nazir lbw b Hasan Mahmud 113

Imran Rafiq c Soumya b Mahedi 62

Saud Shakeel c Tanvir b Sumon 42

Khushdil Shah c Najmul b Hasan Mahmud 27

Amad Butt not out 15

Saif Badar not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-11) 12

TOTAL (for six wkts, 50 overs) 301

FALL OF WKTS: 1-18, 2-41, 3-158, 4-243, 5-279, 6-291.

DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Hasnain, Sameen Gul, Umar Khan.

BOWLING: Hasan Mahmud 10-1-52-2 (1w); Sumon Khan 10-0-75-3 (4w); Mahedi Hasan 10-1-39-1 (2w); Soumya Sarkar 10-0-76-0 (2w); Tanvir Islam 8-0-43-0; Afif Hossain 2-0-15-0 (1w).

BANGLADESH:

Mohammad Naim c Imran b Hasnain 16

Soumya Sarkar c Haider b Sameen 15

Najmul Hossain Shanto c Umar b Khushdil 46

Yasir Ali lbw b Amad 22

Afif Hossain c Sameen b Hasnain 49

Zakir Hasan c Sameen b Umar 9

Mahidul Islam c Umar b Khushdil 42

Sumon Khan lbw b Saif 3

Hasan Mahmud b Hasnain 8

Tanvir Islam not out 5

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-2) 4

TOTAL (all out, 43.3 overs) 224

FALL OF WKTS: 1-23, 2-41, 3-92, 4-119, 5-142, 6-147, 7-195, 8-209, 9-218.

BOWLING: Sameen Gul 5-0-43-1; Mohammad Hasnain 8.3-0-32-3 (1w); Amad Butt 6-0-29-1; Umar Khan 10-0-52-1; Khushdil Shah 8-1-39-2 (1w); Saif Badar 6-0-27-2.

RESULT: Pakistan won by 77 runs.

UMPIRES: C. Shamshuddin (India) and R.M.P.J. Rambukwella (Sri Lanka).

MATCH REFEREE: G.F. Labrooy (Sri Lanka).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Rohail Nazir.

PLAYER-OF-THE-SERIES: Soumya Sarkar.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2019