Pakistan on Thursday stormed into the final of the Asian Games cricket after crushing Bangladesh by six wickets in the first semi-final played at Nisshin. Pakistani batters chased down the modest target of 112 runs in the 12th over by losing only four wickets. Abdus Samad top-scored with unbeaten 30 runs off just 15 balls while Hasan Nawaz hit 27 runs though he was still on the crease. India will take on Sri Lanka in the second semi-final at the same venue tomorrow. Chasing 112 in 13 overs, Pakistan recovered from 53 for four to reach the target in 11.3 overs, with Samad and Hasan adding an unbroken 59-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Samad provided the decisive acceleration, smashing 30 not out from just 15 balls with five fours and a six. His innings turned the contest firmly in Pakistan’s favour when he took apart Mustafizur Rahman in the 10th over. With Pakistan requiring 36 from the final four overs, Hasan took a single from the first ball before Samad launched Mustafizur for a six over long-on and then struck four consecutive boundaries. The over yielded 23 runs and reduced the equation to just 13 from 18 balls. Samad collected 22 runs from the five balls he faced in the over as Pakistan surged from 76 for four to 99 for four.

Hasan complemented Samad well, finishing unbeaten on 27 from 22 balls with two fours and two sixes. Earlier, Saim Ayub struck 21 from 12 balls, including two sixes, while T20I debutant Maaz Sadaqat made a rapid 15 from seven balls. Pakistan had suffered early setbacks in the chase as captain Sahibzada Farhan fell for one before Maaz, Saim and Usman Khan departed inside the first seven overs. At 53 for four, Bangladesh had an opening, but Samad and Hasan responded with an unbeaten stand that took Pakistan comfortably into the gold-medal match.

Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Bangladesh posted 111 for seven from their allotted 13 overs. Towhid Hridoy top-scored with 42 from 25 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes, while Saif Hassan contributed 19. Pakistan’s spinners kept Bangladesh under pressure despite Hridoy’s counterattack. Sufyan Moqim was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 26 runs, while Arafat Minhas taking two for 23. Saim returned economical figures of one for three from his two overs. Pakistan will face the winner of the second semi-final between India and Sri Lanka in the gold-medal match on Saturday, 3 October at the same venue.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)