NISSHIN: Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets in the first semi-final of the Asian Games men’s cricket competition at Korogi Sports Club on Thursday. Sufiyan Muqeem took three wickets with the ball, and the batters then shared the workload in the chase.
Chasing 112 in 13 overs, the Green Shirts reached the target for the loss of four wickets with three balls to spare.
Pakistan Beat Bangladesh After a Shaky Start
The chase began badly. Captain Sahibzada Farhan fell for one in the first over, with only six runs on the board.
His opening partner Maaz Sadaqat hit two fours and a six in a lively seven-ball 15, but Nasum Ahmed removed him in the next over. Saim Ayub then took on Mustafizur Rahman, striking two sixes and a four, before the experienced pacer bowled him in the fourth over for a 12-ball 21.
Usman Khan, who came in at No.3, put on 15 runs for the fourth wicket with Hasan Nawaz. Rishad Hossain dismissed him on the first ball of the seventh over, with Pakistan on 53/4.
Samad and Nawaz Turn the Game Around
Abdul Samad came in at No.6 and, together with Nawaz, flipped the match with aggressive hitting. The pair overpowered the Bangladesh attack and took Pakistan home with an unbeaten stand of 69 off just 32 deliveries.
Samad led the way with an unbeaten 30 off 15 balls, including five fours and a six. Nawaz added 27 not out from 22 deliveries.
Mahedi Hasan, Rahman, Hossain and Ahmed took one wicket each for Bangladesh.
How Bangladesh Built Their Total
The match was reduced to 13 overs per side because of a wet outfield. Farhan won the toss and chose to field, and Bangladesh finished on 111/7.
The Tigers started carefully. Openers Saif Hassan and Tanzi Hasan Tamim added 17 before Arafat Minhas dismissed Tamim for seven off five balls in the second over. Ayub then bowled captain Litton Das for two, and Minhas removed Parvez Hossain Emon for one, leaving Bangladesh at 21/3.
Towhid Hridoy joined Saif and the pair added 24 for the fourth wicket, until Muqeem dismissed the opener in the seventh over. Saif scored 19 off 17 balls with two sixes and a four.
Hridoy and Mosaddek Hossain then put on a fast 53 for the fifth wicket, but Muqeem dismissed both in the penultimate over. Hridoy top-scored for Bangladesh with 42 off 25 balls, hitting four sixes and two fours, while Mosaddek made 11 off 16.
Mahedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain finished unbeaten on eight and two, adding some late runs.
Muqeem was Pakistan’s best bowler with 3 for 26 in his three overs. Minhas took two wickets, and Ayub took one.
Squads
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan (c), Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan (wk), Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Ahmed Daniyal, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim
Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Litton Das (capt & wk), Towhid Hridoy, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman