UAE batsmen outclassed again at Asia Cup T20, this time by hosts Bangladesh

The UAE fell to a 51-run defeat to Bangladesh, and again, the pervading feeling was one of a chance at history lost. For the second time in successive nights, the UAE were little short of heroic, Paul Radley reports from Dhaka.

Bangladesh's Mohammad Mithun, right, plays a shot as the UAE wicketkeeper Swapnil Patil looks on during their Asia Cup T20 cricket match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on February 26, 2016. AFP PHOTO/Munir uz ZAMANShow less

DHAKA // Another day, another mass of fans won by the UAE’s cricketers. An elusive win against one of the sport’s elite remains tantalisingly out of reach for now, though.

Just as they had in their opening match of the Asia Cup, the UAE national team crumbled against some acclaimed pace bowlers when a shock win had seemed within their grasp.

They fell to a 51-run defeat to Bangladesh, and again, the pervading feeling was one of a chance at history lost.

For the second time in successive nights at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, the UAE were little short of heroic during their spell in the field.

It was less than 24 hours since they had pushed Sri Lanka so close in their first Asia Cup fixture in eight years.

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Far from being downhearted at a golden opportunity missed, the national team appeared emboldened by the 14-run loss the previous night, just as Amjad Javed, the captain, said they would be.

Mohammed Naveed, the UBL accounts clerk who is the UAE’s leading pace bowler, has adored the adulation Dhaka’s crowds have given him over the past week. They like a hero, he says, and he is happy to play the role.

This time the entire stadium was against him, but even then they had to appreciate his work, so exquisite was it.

Naveed’s four overs went for just 12 runs. His wicket maiden in the 13th over was the centre piece of Bangladesh’s asphyxiation in the middle overs.

In 14 overs between the end of the fifth and the start of the last, the UAE took seven for 75. It was gripping stuff, and reached the point where a packed Friday crowd, which had begun as a rowdy friendly, only occasionally broke silence to shout for their players to hurry up.

Ahmed Raza was outstanding, too. The vice captain is wicketless so far in the competition, yet his eight overs have cost just 31 runs.

Once they had been held to 133 for eight - precisely four runs more than Sri Lanka managed - Bangladesh appeared to know just what was required with the ball.

Chandika Hathurusinghe, who started his coaching career in the UAE a decade back, has enjoyed great success since taking up a similar role with Bangladesh two years ago.

Part of his masterplan has been to alter the team’s bowling attack from one that relies on spin to one which favours pace.

They might not have the renown of Lasith Malinga, who did for the UAE in their opener, but Bangladesh’s thriving pace battery were far too good for the national team’s top order here, too.

Mustafizur Rahman suggested he is back fit and firing after missing the trip to Dubai for the Pakistan Super League because of injury. He took two for 13 from his four overs.

Mashrafe Mortaza, the home captain, managed two for 12 off three overs, while Mahmadullah added two for five to his earlier 36 not out with the bat.

Mohammed Usman fought a lone battle, top scoring with 30, but the UAE ended well short of both their target and even the allocation of overs, as they were bowled out for 82 in 17.4 overs.

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