Asian Games: Pakistan women’s cricket team beats Bangladesh by 31 runs in bronze medal match

Aichi-Nagoya, Japan: Pakistan women’s team defeated Bangladesh by 31 runs in the third-place play-off match at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Tuesday. Bangladesh succumbed to 114/7 after 20 overs while chasing a challenging target of 146 runs and missed out on their first medal of this edition of the Asian Games.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan started well with Shawaal Zulfiqar and Gull Feroza. The duo added 46 runs for the first wicket before Nahida Akter dismissed Feroza. The 'wicket-taker' batter made 31 off 23 balls with the help of six boundaries. Saira Jabeen replaced her at the crease but couldn't stay for long and departed after making just five runs.

Zulfiqar (17 off 27 balls) and Eyman Fatima (0) followed Jabeen and went back to the pavilion within the next couple of overs. Ayesha Zafar made a quick nine runs, but Shanjida Akter Meghla dismissed her for nine runs. When Pakistan were reeling at 67/5, skipper Fatima Sana joined Aliya Riaz at the crease with eight overs still left in their innings.

The duo added 67 runs for the sixth wicket as Riaz contributed 25 runs off 22 balls with the help of two sixes and a four. Sana hit three sixes and as many fours in her 45-run knock. She lost her wicket on the very last delivery of the Pakistan innings as the Women in Green posted 145/8 on the board.

Nadida Akter, Ritu Moni and Shorna Akter took two wickets each, whereas Shanjida Akter Meghla took a single wicket. Chasing a modest target of 146, Bangladesh batters started well with Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous. Umm-e-Hani provided the first breakthrough for Pakistan when she dismissed Ferdous in the third over.

Tasmia Rubab dismissed Dilara Akter (12 off eight balls) in the next over. Sobhana Mostary followed her in the next over and went back after making just two runs. Skipper Nigar Sultana Joty and Sharmin Akhter added 47 runs for the fourth wicket and stabilised the Bangla innings. But the pressure of asking run-rate kept rising from one end and that resulted in the dismissal of the Bangla skipper when Ayesh Zafar trapped her LBW. She made 25 off 30 runs with the help of three fours.

After that, the wickets kept falling from one end, and the required run rate kept rising. Sharmin Akhter (46 not out off 45 balls) and Nahida Akter (10 not out off six balls) stayed unbeaten as all 20 overs finished and Bangladesh were still 31 runs behind from the score of Pakistan.

Umm-e-Hani was the best bowler for Pakistan, who finished with the bowling figures of 4-1-10-3. Fatima Sana, Tasmia Rubab, Nashra Sandhu and Ayesh Zafar took one wicket each as Pakistan won the match and secured a bronze medal.

Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana, who was also the women's flag bearer for Pakistan at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games 2026, helped her nation secure the second medal of the continental event. Pakistan's first medal at the Asian Games 2026 was won by Asim Khan, who secured a bronze medal in mixed martial arts. Pakistan are currently in 26th place in the medal tally of the Asian Games 2026 with two bronze medals. (ANI)