Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in semis, face Pakistan in the final today
Bangladesh women’s cricket team continued their brilliant performance in the Asian Games as they moved into the final after thumping Sri Lanka by 25 runs in Incheon, South Korea, on Thursday. The win at the Yeonhui Cricket ground set up a final against Pakistan, a repeat of the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games final and ensured at least a silver medal for Bangladesh. The final will be held at the same ground today. The play will start at 11:00am Bangladesh Standard Time.
The bowlers played a key role in Bangladesh’s win as they successfully defended a meagre total of 95 runs to dismiss Sri Lanka for 70 run in 18.2 overs in the Twenty20 game.
Pace bowler Panna Ghosh led Bangladesh’s way claiming 5-10, bulldozing Sri Lanka on the low and slow wicket of the newly-built cricket stadium prepared by a Bangladeshi curator.
Panna struck twice in her first over and Sri Lanka could never recover from the damage. Only two batters of Sri Lanka could reach double figures as Bangladesh made regular breakthroughs.
Rumana Ahmed and skipper Salma Khatun played their part claiming two wickets and one wicket respectively.
Earlier, Lata Mandol played an unbeaten innings of 34 runs facing 43 balls and Farjana Haque chipped in win 22 runs after Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat.
‘We bowled in a manner as if we had just 70 runs to defend, not 95,’ five-wicket queen Panna told reporters in Incheon. ‘We checked the singles and did not want to concede too many boundaries.
‘We had a few misfieldings and also wasted a few stumping chances. But we covered it up later.
‘The team spirit was crucial to success. Everybody was united. We could not do this without this team spirit,’ said the lanky pacer, who has now got the second five-wicket haul in her international career.
Panna oozed some confidence ahead of the final saying if they can maintain the same spirit a win against Pakistan is also possible.
‘We just need a bit of improvement in the final. Given the bowling attack we have, if we can put 100 runs on the board, I think we can win the final too.’
-With New Age input
