Samad blitz propels Pakistan past Bangladesh into Asian Games final

Bangladesh’s hopes of winning the men’s cricket gold at the Asian Games ended with a six-wicket defeat by Pakistan in their rain-shortened semi-final in Nisshin.

Pakistan chased down 112 with nine balls to spare after Bangladesh had posted 111/7 from their 13 overs on Thursday.

The Tigers had Pakistan under pressure at several stages of the chase, reducing them to 17/2 after two overs and later 44/3.

But Abdul Samad’s unbeaten 30 off 15 balls and Hasan Nawaz’s 27 not out steered Pakistan home.

The decisive swing came in Mustafizur Rahman’s second over, when Samad launched a six and followed it with four successive boundaries as Pakistan took 23 from the over.

That left them needing only 13 from the final three overs.

Mustafizur finished with 1/41 from his two overs.

Bangladesh had started well with the ball. Sahibzada Farhan fell in the opening over, caught by Towhid Hridoy off Mahedi Hasan, before Nasum Ahmed removed Maaz Sadaqat in the next.

Saim Ayub then counterattacked, hitting Mustafizur for two sixes and a four in successive deliveries before the left-arm seamer had him caught for 21 off 12 balls.

Pakistan were later 72/4 with 40 needed from 25 balls, but Hasan and Samad took control.

Hasan struck two sixes off Nasum in the eighth over before Samad’s assault on Mustafizur effectively settled the contest.

Earlier, Towhid Hridoy struck 42 off 25 balls to lead Bangladesh’s recovery from 21/3.

Pakistan won the toss and chose to field after a wet outfield reduced the match to 13 overs a side at Korogi Sports Park.

Bangladesh lost Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das and Parvez Hossain Emon inside the first four overs before Saif Hassan and Hridoy began the recovery.

Saif made 19 off 17 balls before Sufyan Moqim trapped him lbw to leave Bangladesh 45/4 in the seventh over.

Hridoy then added 53 for the fifth wicket with Mosaddek Hossain, hitting two fours and four sixes before being caught off Sufyan.

Mosaddek followed for 11 off 16, while Mahedi Hasan struck two late fours in an unbeaten eight off four balls.

Sufyan finished with 3/26 and Arafat Minhas took 2/23.

Bangladesh had reached the semi-finals without playing their quarter-final against Malaysia after rain made the ground unplayable, advancing as the higher-ranked side. Pakistan similarly progressed past Hong Kong without a ball being bowled.

The Tigers will now play the loser of the India-Sri Lanka semi-final in the bronze-medal match on Saturday.

Bangladesh entered Thursday with one medal at the Games, a bronze in wushu.