Bangladesh’s cricketers won their nation’s first ever Asian Games gold medal by ending Afghanistan’s dream run in the inaugural final yesterday.
Mohammad Ashraful’s men ensured their place in history with a five-wicket victory in a thrilling Twenty20 final at the Guanggong cricket stadium.
The Afghans, who had stunned Pakistan by 22 runs in Thursday’s semi-final, fought till the end despite being restricted to 118-8 after they won the toss and elected to bat.
Bangladesh were reduced to 75-5 by the 16th over, before the sixth-wicket pair of Naeem Islam and Mohammad Shabbir put on an unbeaten 44-run partnership to secure a memorable win.
With 19 needed off 12 balls, the pair hammered 17 off the penultimate over bowled by off-spinner Karim Sadeq, including two towering sixes by Shabbir, to seal Afghanistan’s fate.
Naeem returned unbeaten on 34 and Shabbir smashed 33 not out off 18 balls to clinch a victory sure to spark wild celebrations in the cricket-mad South Asian nation.
“I had a good talk with Naeen before the 19th over and we went for it,” Shabbir said. “Luckily, it came good. There was no pressure on me, but I am sure my team-mates in the dressing room were tense.”
Ashraful admitted he had given up hope towards the end.
“I was feeling a bit low but then Shabbir came and did the job for us,” the Bangladesh captain said. “It is thrilling to be part of a gold medal winning team.”
“There was a bit of pressure because Afghanistan is a very good side and this was our first major final,” he said.
Naeem had earlier taken two for eight from three overs to restrict Afghanistan to a modest total.
Afghanistan were 66-6 by the 13th over, before Mohammad Asghar revived their chances with an unbeaten 38 off 36 balls, sharing a crucial stand of 44 for the seventh wicket with Shabbir Ahmed (25).
Asghar boosted the total with 16 runs in the 17th over bowled by Nazmul Hossain that included a massive six.
Pakistan, meanwhile, clinched the bronze medal with an emphatic six-wicket win over Sri Lanka.
Skipper Khalid Latif led Pakistan’s charge with an unbeaten 53 off 42 balls which helped his team overtake Sri Lanka’s 135 all out with two overs to spare.
Latif hit four sixes, three of them in one over from leg-spinner Malinga Bandara.
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