Top 5 Matches Played In Asia Cup History (ODIs)

image-lm0khhp2Virat Kohli unleashed his best against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2012 (x.com)

Asia Cup’s celebrated history is filled with intense battles between teams playing with unyielding spirit of competition. Such is the fierce nature of this cricketing extravaganza, that it has produced some of the most thrilling and closely-fought matches the ODI genre has had to offer since its inception.

High-stakes encounters, such as India vs Pakistan clashes, at the Asia Cup stage have transcended the sport through a roller-coaster of emotions.

Celebrating the sheer competitiveness of Asia Cup events, here at OneCricket we take a look back at five of the best matches that have taken place at the continental stage.


1. India vs Bangladesh, 2018 Asia Cup final

image-llws8ahjRavindra Jadeja and an injured Kedar Jadhav in 2018 final (AP)

India’s last-ball win against Bangladesh at the 2018 Asia Cup final in Dubai stands out as one of the most remarkable ODI matches in recent memory. With title on the line, the two teams fought tooth-and-nail until the equation boiled down to the last ball.

Bangladesh, batting first, managed 222 largely owing to Litton Das’ larger-than-life 121. While the Indians were comfortably poised to romp home with time to spare at one stage, a knee injury to unbeaten Kedar Jadhav coupled with timely Indian wickets kept Bangladesh in the hunt for their maiden trophy hunt.

However, Jadhav’s calculated singles with the tail ultimately, yet barely, took the ‘Men in Blue’ past the finishing line.


2. Bangladesh vs Pakistan, 2012 Asia Cup final

image-llws8ypeUmar Gul with Younus Khan in 2012 final (AP)

India’s 2018 title clash with Bangladesh was not the first instance of an Asia Cup final going down the wire. Back in 2012 in Mirpur, hosts suffered their first heartbreak in a final at the hands of Pakistan.

Pakistan, after being put into bat first, managed just 236-9 from 50 overs. Shahid Afridi bludgeoned a 22-ball 32 towards the end to help his side get to a respectable total, as even 236 once looked a far-fetched idea following opener Mohammad Hafeez’s unhurried 87-ball 40 at the top.

Bangladesh, despite launching confidently with Tamim Iqbal’s 60, lost their way in the middle of their run-chase to a point where they were required to get a boundary off the last ball. Tailender Shahadat Hossain failed to get bat to ball, giving Pakistan their second-ever Asia Cup title.


3. Pakistan vs India, 2014 Asia Cup

image-llws9qcaShahid Afridi (Twitter)

Shahid Afridi channelled his inner demon against India in Pakistan’s 2014 Asia Cup duel to script one of the most dramatic run-chases for his side. Chasing India’s 246, the ‘Men in Green’ slumped to 113-4 before Mohammad Hafeez and Sohaib Maqsood’s partnership took them past the 200-run mark.

It all boiled down to Afridi’s brute force towards the end when he went up against then in-form spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. The Pakistani legend blasted the off-spinner for successive sixes in the final over to produce a one-wicket win for his side with mere two balls left in the bank.


4. Sri Lanka vs India, 2004 Asia Cup

image-llwsacxoIrfan Pathan (Twitter)

India took field against Sri Lanka in a must-win game in Colombo, mere days after they were larruped by the hosts in the same tournament. Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag cracked sparkling fifties at the top, while Yuvraj Singh clubbed a 46-ball 50 towards the end to take Team India to 271-6.

The seemingly-competitive total, however, was not a safe one at all, especially against the might of a then Sri Lankan team determined to win the tournament. Indian bowlers, particularly Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan with assistance from Virender Sehwag bowled out of their skins to stop a rampaging Sanath Jayasuriya.

Sehwag dismissed Jayasuriya for 130 just in time towards the end to keep the Sri Lankans within four runs of their target. Owing to the win, the ‘Men in Blue’ cruised to the final where they lost against the same opponents at the same venue mere four days later.


5. India vs Afghanistan, 2018 Asia Cup

image-llwsav0hAfghanistan players celebrate their tie against India (AP)

India’s final Super Four clash against Afghanistan in 2018 produced the first-ever tied game in the history of Asia Cup. The two teams threw equal punches in the match, 252 each, after Team India suffered a colossal collapse in their run-chase.

Cruising at 204-4 at one stage, Afghanistan spinners Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi restricted the likes of Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Kedhar Jadhav and Ravindra Jadeja, all during the second half of the innings.

The result, while a tie, meant no less than a win for Afghanistan as they became the only side from that competition to take India to the extreme edge.