Asia Cup win for Bangladesh

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP):

Bangladesh defended their modest total of 133-8 to beat the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 51 runs in the Asia Cup yesterday.

Fast bowlers Mashrafe Mortaza (2-12) and Mustafizur Rahman (2-13) led the way for the hosts, dismantling the top order to bowl the UAE out for 82 in 17.4 overs.

Off-spinner Mahmudullah took two for five off two overs and left arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan finished with 2-20.

Muhammad Usman scored 30 for the UAE while opener Rohan Mustafa contributed 18.

For Bangladesh Mohammad Mithun was the highest scorer with 47 while Mahmudullah was unbeaten on 36.

Twenty-four hours earlier, the UAE had restricted Sri Lanka to 129-8 before being beaten by 14 runs.

In yesterday's match, UAE's bowlers again provided the platform for a possible shock result but their batsmen responded poorly.

Fast bowler Al-Amin Hossain (1-8) made the breakthrough for the hosts in the second over by dismissing Muhammad Kaleem for nought.

Mustafa survived a caught and bowled appeal on 10 as video replays showed Rahman did not take the catch cleanly. He made eight more runs before getting out.

Rahman then dealt a double blow, taking two wickets in consecutive deliveries which left UAE precarious at 34-5.

Al Hasan and Mahmudullah kept up the pressure created by the pacers by cleaning up the tail.

Earlier, reckless batting had put Bangladesh in a potentially vulnerable position.

Fast bowler Mohammad Naveed claimed 2-12, and captain Amjad Javed took 2-34.