The 2018 Asia Cup final between India and Bangladesh took place on September 28, 2018, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. It turned out to be a nail-biting contest, with India clinching the title on the last ball of the match. The game witnessed a brilliant century from Liton Das, impressive bowling performances from India, and an intense chase that went down to the wire. Let’s take a closer look at the highlights of this thrilling encounter.

Toss and Bangladesh’s Solid Start

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first, aiming to set a strong target for India. Their opening batsmen started aggressively, taking on the Indian bowlers with confidence. The pitch looked good for batting, and the Bangladeshi openers took full advantage of it.

Liton Das’s Stunning Century

The standout performer for Bangladesh was Liton Das, who played a spectacular innings of 121 runs off 87 balls. His knock was filled with 12 fours and 2 sixes, and he dominated the Indian bowlers in the early phase of the innings. His elegant stroke play and fearless approach put Bangladesh in a commanding position.

However, apart from Liton Das, no other Bangladeshi batsman managed to stay long at the crease. The Indian bowlers started to make inroads into the batting lineup, applying pressure on the middle order.

India’s Bowling Comeback and Bangladesh’s Collapse

After a strong start by Bangladesh, India’s bowlers staged a brilliant comeback. Kedar Jadhav, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah played a crucial role in restricting Bangladesh’s batting lineup.

• Kedar Jadhav took 2 important wickets with his off-spin, breaking Bangladesh’s momentum.
• Kuldeep Yadav bowled beautifully, picking up 3 wickets and troubling the middle order.
• Jasprit Bumrah was at his best in the death overs, finishing with 2 wickets and ensuring that Bangladesh couldn’t add too many runs in the last few overs.

As a result, Bangladesh collapsed from a strong 120/0 to 222 all out in 48.3 overs.

India’s Chase – A Tough Start

Chasing 223, India was expected to dominate, but they got off to a shaky start. Shikhar Dhawan (15) and Ambati Rayudu (2) fell early, putting pressure on the middle order.

However, captain Rohit Sharma played a crucial innings, scoring 48 runs off 55 balls, stabilizing the chase. He played some elegant strokes but fell before he could take India past the danger zone.

MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik’s Crucial Partnership

With India losing early wickets, experienced MS Dhoni (36) and Dinesh Karthik (37) played sensibly, building a partnership. They rotated the strike well and ensured that the required run rate stayed in control.

However, Bangladesh fought back with tight bowling, picking up crucial wickets at regular intervals, making India’s chase more challenging.

Kedar Jadhav’s Injury and Return

During India’s chase, Kedar Jadhav suffered a hamstring injury and had to leave the field after scoring 23 runs. His exit created tension in the Indian dressing room as the match became even more unpredictable.

With wickets falling and the game heading toward a last-over thriller, Kedar Jadhav returned to bat despite his injury, determined to take India across the finish line.

Final Over Thriller – India Wins on the Last Ball

With 6 runs needed off the last over, the match was balanced on a knife’s edge. Kuldeep Yadav and Kedar Jadhav held their nerves and kept taking singles.

With one run required off the final ball, Kedar Jadhav guided the ball towards square leg and completed a single, sealing a dramatic 3-wicket victory for India.

India’s Historic Victory

With this win, India secured its 7th Asia Cup title, further strengthening its dominance in Asian cricket. This match will be remembered for:

• Liton Das’s brilliant century
• India’s bowling fightback
• A thrilling last-ball finish

Conclusion

The 2018 Asia Cup Final was one of the most thrilling encounters in tournament history. It had excitement, drama, and tension till the very last ball. India’s resilience, Bangladesh’s fighting spirit, and the overall competitiveness of the game made it a memorable final.

This match proved why cricket is called a game of uncertainties and why fans love these last-over thrillers!