Bangladesh beats UAE in Asia Cup

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

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

Off-spinner Mahmudullah took 2-5 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 8-129 before being beaten by 14 runs.

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

Fast bowler Al-Amin Hossain (1-8) made the breakthrough for the host 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.

Opener Mohammad Mithun top-scored with 47 off 41 with four fours and two sixes, after being dropped on 10.

Mithun helped Bangladesh get off to a decent start after his side was sent in to bat. He combined for 46 runs in the first six overs with Soumya Sarkar.

UAE, however, came back thanks to its spinners, who slowed down the run rate.

Mahmudullah scored 17 in the last over to give the score a boost, and was unbeaten on 36.