Pakistan Beat Bangladesh to Win Women’s Cricket Bronze at Asian Games

Pakistan secured the Asian Games women’s cricket bronze medal on Tuesday after beating Bangladesh by 31 runs in Nisshin, Japan.

Umm-e-Hani produced a superb bowling performance. She took three wickets for just 10 runs in four overs.

Captain Fatima Sana also played a decisive role. She scored a counter-attacking 45 from 30 balls to help Pakistan post 145 for eight.

Bangladesh could manage 114 for seven in reply. The result gave Pakistan its third women’s cricket medal at the Asian Games.

Fatima Rescues Pakistan’s Innings

Pakistan made a steady start after Fatima won the toss and chose to bat.

Gull Feroza and Shawaal Zulfiqar added 46 runs for the opening wicket. Gull scored 31 from 23 balls, including six fours.

Nahida Akter eventually ended the partnership. Shawaal then fell for 17 from 27 balls.

Bangladesh quickly gained control. Pakistan lost five wickets for just 21 runs.

The collapse left Pakistan at 67 for five. Fatima then changed the momentum with an aggressive innings.

She hit three fours and three sixes. Her 45 came from only 30 deliveries.

Fatima also added 67 runs with Aliya Riaz. The partnership gave Pakistan a strong finish.

Aliya scored 25 from 22 balls. Her innings included two sixes and one four.

Pakistan scored 55 runs during the final five overs. Bangladesh, however, claimed two wickets and conceded only seven runs in the final over.

Nahida, Shorna Akter and Ritu Moni took two wickets each for Bangladesh.

Umm-e-Hani Leads Pakistan’s Bowling Attack

Pakistan began its defence in impressive fashion.

Umm-e-Hani and Tasmia Rubab reduced Bangladesh to 20 for three inside five overs.

Umm-e-Hani struck in her opening over. She dismissed Juairiya Ferdous.

Tasmia then removed Dilara Akter for 12. Umm-e-Hani struck again in the fifth over to dismiss Sobhana Mostary.

Saira Jabeen took all three catches during the early collapse. Her effort to dismiss Dilara near the cover boundary was particularly impressive.

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana then tried to rebuild the innings.

Nigar and Sharmin Akhter added 47 runs for the fourth wicket. Nigar scored 25 from 30 balls.

Sharmin remained unbeaten on 46 from 45 deliveries. She hit four fours.

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Bangladesh Fall Short in the Chase

Bangladesh needed more than 10 runs an over at the halfway stage. The pressure continued to increase.

Ayesha Zafar dismissed Nigar leg-before in the 14th over.

Umm-e-Hani and Fatima then struck in successive overs. They removed Shorna Akter and Ritu Moni.

Umm-e-Hani’s dismissal of Shorna for six gave her career-best T20I figures.

She finished with three wickets for 10 runs. Her previous best was two for 28 against Sri Lanka in Dambulla earlier this year.

Nashra Sandhu later dismissed Rabeya Khan. Bangladesh were then 93 for seven.

Sharmin remained unbeaten, but Bangladesh could not reach the target.

Fatima also took one wicket. Her dismissal of Ritu Moni took her T20I wicket tally for 2026 to 31.

Pakistan Secure Third Asian Games Medal

The bronze medal is Pakistan’s third women’s cricket medal at the Asian Games.

Pakistan previously won gold in 2010 and 2014.

The latest victory also reversed the result from the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Bangladesh had beaten Pakistan in the bronze-medal match on that occasion.

Pakistan began this campaign with a three-wicket quarter-final victory over Thailand.

Sri Lanka then defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the semi-final.

The bronze-medal win ensured Pakistan finished the competition with a podium place.

India and Sri Lanka will meet in the women’s cricket final for the gold medal.