On Friday, November 21, Bangladesh A clashed with India A in a tense semi-final at the ACC Asia Cup Rising Stars, held at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha. The match concluded with Bangladesh A securing victory in the Super Over. Both teams were locked at 194-6 after 20 overs.
What led to the match venturing into a Super Over? The turning point involved Bangladesh's captain, Akbar Ali. India needed four runs on the final ball. Raqibul Hasan delivered a full-length ball outside off stump to Harsh Dubey.
Read more: Why wasn't Vaibhav Suryavanshi sent in the Super Over? Questions arise over captain Jitesh Sharma's 'big blunder', unraveling the story of defeat against Bangladesh.
Dubey aimed a shot towards long-on, a usual run-fetching zone, albeit tough for a second run. However, the Indian batsmen sprinted for it. Akbar Ali, upon receiving the throw, attempted an underarm hit at the stumps but missed. In absence of a backup fielder, the Indians completed a third run, pushing the match into a Super Over.
Read more: Jitesh explains not sending Vaibhav in the Super Over, shouldering responsibility for the loss.
What transpired mentally, Akbar Ali reveals Following the nail-biting match between India A and Bangladesh A, the captain admitted his mistake, apologizing to all supporters. He shared his awareness of the situation with the last ball, yet acknowledged an unexpected error changed the match's course. Post-match, the captain stated - I apologize to all my supporters. I was fully aware of the equation, but suddenly lost focus, leading to that delivery. I told my team that I would take responsibility for whatever happens in the Super Over.
Read more: IND A vs. BAN A Highlights - Bangladesh secures a spot in the finals of the ACC Asia Cup after a Super Over heartbreak for India.
What did the Bangladesh captain say about Vaibhav and Priyansh?
Praising the Indian team, Bangladesh's captain highlighted the excellent start by their openers, Vaibhav and Priyansh. He noted Bangladesh's commendable bowling, which was excellently countered by the opposition's strategy, stretching the game to the last over. Ripon delivered an astounding 19th over, giving Bangladesh the edge.
Why the final over with a spinner?
Regarding the decision to bowl the last over with a spinner, he clarified. In hindsight, he admitted the idea of opting for seamers but believed in Raqibul's potential at that moment. He shared that he is still processing the outcome.
