Bangladesh women lose in Asiad cricket final to settle for silver again

Bangladesh women have lost to Pakistan by four runs in a dramatic Asiad cricket final.

However, they handed Bangladesh their first silver in the Incheon event, which they had sealed earlier when the women cricket team trounced Sri Lanka in the semi-finals.

On Friday, Bangladeshis needed to knock off only 43 runs off seven overs to win the rain-curtailed match at the Yeonhui Cricket Ground.

But some incisive bowling by Pakistani women left them agonisingly short at 38 for nine.

Choosing to bat first, Pakistan posted a modest 97 for six in their 20 stipulated overs.

Bismah Maroof scored the highest 24 for Pakistan before being bowled by Fahima Khatun.

Four more of their batsmen reached double figures to put the total which eventually proved beyond their rivals.

Rumana Ahmed picked up two wickets for Bangladesh while skipper Salma Khatun, Jahanara Alam and Fahima took one each.

Rain poured down on the ground just after the Pakistan innings.

The Tigresses started their chase of the revised target well as they reached 20 for two in three overs.

They needed only 14 runs from their last three allotted overs with eight wickets in hand.

But the hopes of grabbing the gold started fading away when their skipper was sent back only for one in the fifth over.

To make matters worse, Farzana Hoque (10) went back in the last delivery of that Sadia Yousuf over.

The batting then dramatically imploded with the last five batsmen adding only five in seven overs to help the Pakistani women defend their gold.

In the previous Asiad final in 2010, Pakistani women routed Bangladesh by 10 wickets.