MONG KOK: Bangladesh A edged Pakistan A by six runs in the rain-effected semi-final of the ongoing ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023 and qualified for the final.
Opting to bat first in the second semi-final of the Women’s Emerging Asia Cup, which was reduced to nine overs per side due to rain interruption, Bangladesh A put on a decent show with the bat as they set Pakistan to chase 60 runs.
Pakistan A captain Fatima Sana and spinner Anosha Nasir ran through the Bangladesh top-order as they joined forces to book half of their batting lineup inside three overs before a run out in the next over saw Bangladesh A slipping to 16/6.
With the side in heaps of trouble, Rabeya Khan and Nahida Akter anchored Bangladesh A batting charge as the duo added 37 runs for the seventh wicket.
Nahid Akter was the core contributor to the crucial stand as she scored a brisk 21 off 16 deliveries, laced up with three boundaries and a six, before falling to Tuba Hassan in the final over.
Rabeya Khan, on the other hand, carried her bat all the way through with a cautious 20-ball 10.
Fatima Sana led the bowling attack for Pakistan A with 3/10, followed by Anosha Nasir’s 2/6 while Tuba Hassan could pick up a wicket.
Set to chase a modest 60 in the Women’s Emerging Asia Cup semi-final, Pakistan A could only accumulate 53/4 in the allotted nine overs as their batters remained a touch too slow in pursuit of the mounting required run rate.
Opening batter Eyman Fatima top-scored for Pakistan A with a calculated 15-ball 18 with the help of two boundaries and a six, followed by her partner Shawaal Zulfiqar, who scored 11 off 15.
Fatima Sana was the other valuable contributor in the run-chase with an unbeaten 10 off eight deliveries but fell short of steering her side to glory and into the final.
Rabeya Khan was the star for Bangladesh A with the ball too as she picked up two wickets for just 13 runs while Nahida Akter and Marufa Akter made one scalp each.
It is worth mentioning here that the first semi-final of the Women’s Emerging Asia Cup between India and Sri Lanka was again washed out due to persistent rain here.
Meanwhile, India A who had a superior group stage position advanced to the final of the Women’s Emerging Asia Cup and will lock horns with Bangladesh A for the silverware on Wednesday.
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