Asia Cup: Pakistan beat Bangladesh in thrilling final

Pakistan held their nerve to win a thrilling Asia Cup final against Bangladesh by two runs, denying the hosts a first major trophy.

Sarfraz Ahmed's battling unbeaten 46 from 52 balls helped Pakistan recover from 199-8 to post 236-9 in Dhaka.

Tamin Iqbal led Bangladesh's reply with 60, while Shakib Al Hasan made 68.

But Abdur Razzak fell to the penultimate ball of the game and Shahadat Hossain failed to score the boundary needed off the final delivery.

Hossain could only manage a leg bye and his contribution with the bat followed a painful final over with the ball as wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed plundered 19 runs to force the Pakistan total upwards.

While Iqbal and Al Hasan collected their runs at a decent rate in Bangladesh's reply, their momentum was checked by some laboured batting at the other end.

Opener Nazimuddin took 52 balls to make 16 before Nasir Hossain hit a sluggish 28 from 63 deliveries.

Bangladesh required nine runs off the final over and then four off the last two balls, but Aizaz Cheema crucially bowled Razzak to leave Hossain with too much to do.