‘We didn’t have anything to lose but they did’

Bangladesh successfully chased down the target of 112, thanks to some good sense and vitality even as the going got tough against six-time champions India.

Tigresses managed to restrict India to 112 and at one point it looked like India would not even reach that score but their skipper Harmanpreet Kaur hit a brilliant 41-ball 56 to ensure a fighting total.

A solid opening partnership, coupled with Nigar Sultana and Rumana Ahmed's calm knock under pressure got Tigersses close before Jahanara Alam hit the winning runs off the last delivery in a scintillating win.

India were targeting their seventh Asia Cup trophy and they have never been beaten in the final of the tournament, winning all six editions of the tournament. The task in front of the Tigersses looked insurmountable and skipper Salma Khatun said it was difficult to express the emotions in words.

"We are very happy that we have won the Asia Cup. I can't explain in words how much this achievement means to us.

India are experienced campaigners and Bangladesh were coming off the back of a disappointing tour of South Africa. They continued in the same vein in the first match of the T20 Asia cup against Sri Lanka. Bowled out for just 63, Lankans hammered them by six wickets.

However, they turned things around winning all their remaining matches. They beat India in the league match on June 6 by seven wickets and that gave them confidence. India had never been beaten before that in an Asia Cup game.

"We had confidence after the first India match, and we had to come through today because it was the final and we are happy we came through," she said.

Most importantly, the skipper revealed that Tigresses played to win and had nothing to fear.

"We didn't have anything to lose but they had a lot to lose. We had a lot to gain, and we have managed to do that," she concluded.