Drama was the buzzword for the way Bangladesh and holders India played out a humdinger Asia Cup match on Friday.
After watching Little Master Sachin Tendulkar end his year-long quest for a hundredth hundred, the pilled holiday crowd at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur got a bonus with the home side scrambling over the line with four balls to spare and five wickets in hand.
Bangladesh pulled off a sensational five-wicket win against the world champions to keep their hopes alive of progressing.
Within minutes of the game ending Friday night, Dhaka city which had been plunged into silence with most of the population transfixed before their television sets erupted into euphoria.
The incredible result leaves India needing to a win against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday to seal their place in Thursday's final.
On any other day the 290 runs would be beyond the Tigers, but on Friday Mushfiqur Rahim (46 not out) and in particular Nasir Hossain (54) chose to exceed expectations.
Nasir fell two runs short of the target, but vice-captain Mahmudullah finished the game in style with a four through mid-off to thunderous cheers.
The turning point of the game was the 47th over bowled by Irfan Pathan which went for 17 runs.
The fifth wicket pair blasted 64 runs at neck-break speed.
Earlier, Tendulkar batted with steely determination to finally become the first cricketer to score 100 international centuries as Team India, put up 289-5 in 50 overs.
The 38-year-old further cemented his place as one of the greatest of cricketing greats when he stroked a single off left-arm spinner Shakib to reach the landmark. He has scored 51 centuries in Tests and 49 in one-day internationals before Friday's game.
Tendulkar hit 10 boundaries and one six on the way to his hundred, which he reached off 138 deliveries on a slow-paced pitch.
The celebrations for his much-awaited target were muted and Tendulkar looked more relieved than elated after completing the 100th run.
He stood at the non-striker's end looking at his bat for a moment before thanking the heavens. He then raised his helmet towards the crowd, planted a kiss on the Indian cricket logo and was hugged by team-mate Suresh Raina.
