Pakistan Storm Into Asian Games Cricket Final After Beating Bangladesh
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
NISSHIN: Pakistan secured a place in the Asian Games men’s cricket final after defeating Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-affected semi-final at Korogi Sports Park in Japan on Thursday.
Bangladesh were restricted to 111-7 in 13 overs after being asked to bat first. Towhid Hridoy was their leading scorer with 42 off 25 deliveries, hitting two fours and four sixes.
Bangladesh struggled early and slipped to 45-4 before Hridoy helped rebuild the innings. He added 53 runs for the fifth wicket with Mosaddek Hossain, who contributed 11.
Pakistan’s bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the innings. Left-arm spinner Sufyan Moqim claimed three wickets for 26 runs, while Arafat Minhas took two wickets. Saim Ayub was particularly economical, conceding just three runs from his two overs and taking one wicket.
Pakistan were set a revised target of 112 runs from 13 overs, but their chase got off to a difficult start. Captain Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for one in the opening over, while Maaz Sadaqat scored 15 from seven balls.
Saim Ayub added 21 from 12 deliveries before Usman Khan was dismissed for 14, leaving Pakistan struggling at 53-4 after seven overs.
However, Abdul Samad and Hasan Nawaz turned the game around with a crucial unbeaten partnership of 59 runs.
Samad produced the match-winning performance, smashing an unbeaten 30 from just 15 balls, including five fours and a six. He took 22 runs from five deliveries in an over from Mustafizur Rahman, including four consecutive boundaries and a six.
Hasan Nawaz provided strong support with an unbeaten 27 off 22 balls, including two fours and two sixes.
Pakistan reached 112-4 in 11.3 overs, completing the chase with nine balls remaining.
The victory sends Pakistan into Saturday’s gold-medal match, where they will face the winner of the second semi-final between India and Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh will now compete for the bronze medal.
The semi-final was one of the first completed matches for both teams in the tournament after their respective quarter-finals were abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain.
