The match, which attracted a strong one thousand holiday crowd, petered into an anticlimactic finish when Bangladesh, chasing a paltry UAE total of 103, achieved the target, 106 for four, in 32 overs. The small but vociferous Bangladeshi supporters, draped in the red and green national flag, invaded the pitch when vice-captain Khaled Mahmud got more than the winning run by sending off-spinner Nasir Siddiqui off his pads past a close fielder for four runs down to the fine leg boundary.
Although expectation was high regarding the repeat clash between the two 1996 finalists, Bangladesh made a mockery of a contest when they bundled out UAE in 16.1 overs. Thanks to disciplined bowling from all the Bangladeshi bowlers, backed by some excellent fielding and catching, and a virtuoso all-round performance from skipper Aminul, who led his side from the front to an astounding victory.
On the day Bangladesh outplayed their desert opponent in every department of the game. Although UAE skipper won the toss in the morning and opted to bat, his decision to throw a challenging total eventually backfired in the face of some fired-up bowling from Hasibul Hossain and Safiuddin Ahmed.
The two new-ball bowlers exploited the early morning moisture with great authority and virtually pinned down the UAE batsmen. Of the two seamers Safiuddin Ahmed, who was a little unfortunate to return wicketless in the previous match, removed both the UAE openers including double centurion Saeed Al Saffar, who offered a big nick behind the wicket after scoring only eight runs. The tall right-arm speedster however drew first blood when he had the other opener Nasir Siddiqui caught at cover by Khaled Mahmud, leaving UAE at 10 for one from where they never recovered. Although Hasibul, who won the man-of-the-match award on Thursday for his four-wicket haul against Maldives, returned wicketless, his figures of 7-0-16-0 speaks volumes.
Left-arm seamer Mohammed Rafique and Khaled Mahmud took over from where the two new-ball bowlers left to destroy the UAE middle-order. Rafique, who turned 29 on Friday, celebrated his birthday in style, claiming three wickets giving away only 10 runs in his 10 economical overs. Thanks to two outstanding catches from Faruque and Aminul. With the bowlers bowling in a tight line and length, the frustrated UAE batsmen perished quickly, nibbling at deliveries better left alone, and wicketkeeper Khaled Masood was a happy man behind the stumps with four catches.
Faruque clung on to a magnificent one-handed catch, diving to his left at first slip, to give Rafique his first wicket after Arshad Laiq, the most experienced Arab campaigner, offered the difficult chance while playing a forward defensive shot. Rafique was simply devastating. He not only gave the UAE batsmen a torrid time but also picked wickets at regular intervals.
Aminul gave Rafique his third wicket when he pulled off a sensational catch in the slip after Asian Saeed offered the nick. It was so difficult for the on-field umpires to pass a verdict that they summoned the electronic eye to make the final decision after a TV replay.
Rafique was later declared man-of-the-match for his brilliant bowling by match adjudicator, former Sri Lankan fast bowler Ashanta Dimel, ahead of Aminul Islam, who was perhaps a little unfortunate despite his all-round show.
The Bangladesh captain mopped up the UAE tail to finish with flattering figures of three for only seven runs in his 3.3 overs. His trophies included the prized scalp of Pir Baksh, UAE's top scorer, who put on a defiant 29 off 88 balls. Baksh also hit the only sixer of the match, a huge heave off slow left-armer Enamul Haq over long-off.
Going into bat, Aminul went on to score a polished 34 off 53 balls, his innings studded with six fours, guiding Bangladesh close to victory after a very slow but cautious start by the openers.
Bangladesh made heavy weather of an easy target when Javed Omar and Shahriar Hossain could manage only eight runs in nine overs. Shahriar scored a sedate 16 and Javed made a chancy 22 off 60 balls.
It was however Faruque who withered away the looming pressure by playing some masterful shots. Faruque scored a relatively small total but a welcome 13 to decisively take the match away from UAE's expectancy. Faruque became one of the victims of off-spinner Tauqeer, the most successful UAE bowler with three for 28 runs in his eight overs.
Bangladesh, who are one match away from retaining the title and winning a ticket to the next Asia Cup, will play the winners of the second semi-final between Hong Kong and Malaysia being played at the same venue tomorrow.