The Pakistan opening pair Javeria Wadood (L) and Nida Rashid (R) celebrate victory over Bangladesh in the women's limited overs cricket gold medal final 16th Asian Games. PHOTO: AFP
GUANGZHOU:?Pakistan created history Friday in crushing Bangladesh by 10 wickets to win the first-ever Asian Games women’s cricket tournament.
The victory also handed Pakistan their first gold of these Games and prevented Bangladesh from claiming their country’s first ever.
Bangladesh’s total of 92 never looked enough as Pakistan openers Nida Rashid and Javeria Wadood made a positive start to their run chase, playing a full range of shots and looking to to score at every opportunity.
Bangladesh could not force a much-needed breakthrough as Nida raced to a half-century off just 41 balls.
The Pakistan pair reached their target with more than four overs to spare. Nida was 51 not out with Javeria unbeaten on 39.
Bangladesh scored freely in the early part of their innings, but Pakistan’s bowlers tied them down, forcing them to take risks, which led to wickets tumbling.
Captain Salma Khatun top-scored with 24, with Nida taking 3-16 and skipper Sana Mir 2-23.
Mir said that credit goes to the coach and the whole team while the Pakistani side’s manager said that the win was an Eid gift from his side to the nation.
Earlier, China’s hopes of claiming the bronze medal were shattered by Japan in a seven-wicket defeat.
China were restricted to 65-6 off their 20 overs before Japan reached their target with four balls to spare.
Japan captain Ema Kuribayashi, who plays club cricket in New Zealand, top-scored for her side with a steady, unbeaten 24.
“We fought with calmness and concentration. We just tried to avoid getting out. We were focusing on doing our jobs,” said Kuribayashi.
She said the win would be a major boost to the sport in Japan.
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