Bangladesh defeat Pakistan Women’s team to clinch bronze in Asian Games 2023

HANGZHOU: Pakistan Women’s cricket team lost to the Bangladesh women’s team by five wickets in the third-place match for the bronze medal at the Asian Games 2023 at Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field on Monday.

The Bangladesh Women’s team won the toss and justified their decision to bowl first as they reduced the Pakistan Women’s team to 18-4 in the ninth over.

Pakistan started their innings horribly as Marufa Akter bowled a maiden first over and bowled opening batter Shawaal Zulfiqar.

Sidra Ameen was the next wicket to fall as she was caught by Marufa Akter off Nahida Akter in the next over with six runs on the board, meanwhile, wicketkeeper batter Muneeba Ali departed without opening her account.

Sadaf Shamas showed some resistance as she scored 13 off 26 before perishing courtesy of a catch by Rani off Rabeya Khan.

Captain Nida Dar and Natalia Pervaiz were then involved in an 18-run partnership before the latter got out stumped, leaving the Pakistan Women’s team reeling at 36-5.

Meanwhile, Nida Dar was castled by Shorna Akter after a brief inning of 18-ball 14. The new batter Umm-e-Hani also fell in the same over.

Aliya Riaz scored 17 runs off 18 with the help of two boundaries before falling to Shorna Akter in the last over.

Pakistan Women’s team managed to score a meagre 64 runs with the loss of nine wickets in their allocated 20 overs.

Shorna Akter returned with figures of 3-16, while Sanjida Akter Meghla picked up two wickets.

Bangladesh Women’s team got off to a flying start in their pursuit of the target, thanks to an opening partnership of 27 off 30 between Shamima Sultana and Shathi Rani before Sadia Iqbal removed the former.

Shamima Sultana scored 13 runs off 17 balls with the help of two boundaries, while her partner Shathi Rani also scored 13 runs with the help of two boundaries but took 19 deliveries.

Nashra Sandhu then bowled a brilliant spell to pick three wickets, including Shathi Rani, however, Shorna Akter held on to the other end and top-scored with 14 runs to guide Bangladesh to a five-wicket victory.

Nashra Sandhu returned with brilliant figures of 3-18, while Sadia Iqbal and Nida dar picked one wicket each.

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