Key Takeaways
- Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 31 runs to secure bronze medal in women's cricket.
- Captain Fatima Sana's counter-attacking 45 and Umm-e-Hani's three-wicket spell were key.
- This is Pakistan's third bronze in women's cricket at the Asian Games.
Pakistan's women's cricket team secured a hard-fought bronze medal at the Asian Games in Nisshin, Japan, defeating Bangladesh by 31 runs in a thrilling match.
The victory marked a significant achievement for the team, coming after a challenging start to the innings. Captain Fatima Sana's aggressive 30-ball 45 and Umm-e-Hani's exceptional bowling were instrumental in the team's success.
Fatima's innings was particularly noteworthy, as she entered the match as Pakistan's leading run-scorer in women's Twenty20 internationals in 2026, adding 67 from 43 balls with Aliya Riaz to take Pakistan towards a competitive total.
Pakistan made a steady start after winning the toss and electing to bat, with Gull Feroza and Shawaal Zulfiqar putting on 46 in 6.4 overs. However, Bangladesh seized control, taking five wickets for 21 runs to leave Pakistan struggling at 67 for five.
Fatima and Aliya rebuilt the innings, adding 55 runs in the final five overs. Fatima struck Rabeya Khan for six before both batters cleared the ropes against Sanjida Akter in the 17th over, setting up a competitive total of 145 for eight.
Umm-e-Hani and Tasmia Rubab reduced Bangladesh to 20 for three inside five overs, with Umm-e-Hani striking in her first over, removing Juairiya Ferdous, before Tasmia dismissed Dilara Akter for 12. Umm-e-Hani then removed Sobhana Mostary early in the fifth over.
Despite Bangladesh's efforts, with captain Nigar Sultana and Sharmin Akhter adding 47 for the fourth wicket, the team's hopes were ultimately dashed as they required more than 10 runs an over at the halfway stage.
This bronze medal is Pakistan's third in the women's cricket competition at the Asian Games, following gold-medal triumphs in 2010 and 2014. It also marks a measure of redemption for Pakistan, who had lost the bronze-medal match to Bangladesh at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
