Pakistan 97/6 in 20 overs [ Bismah Maroof 24 , Nain Abidi 18, Marina Iqbal 14 ,Rumana Ahmed 2/13 ] beat Bangladesh 38/9 in 7 overs [ Rumana Ahmed 10 ,Farghana Ahmed 10 ,Nida Dar 2/2 ,Sadiya Yusuf 2/2 ,Sana Mir 2/11] by 4 runs [ D/L target was 43 in 7 overs.
Team tigress looked so good so near to clinch gold after being set a target of 43 in 7 overs.
They required 23 in four overs having scored 20 in the first three .But panic from over excitement set in and they lost the match by 4 runs.
Earlier good bowling and fielding restricted Pakistani girls to a modest score of 97/6 in 20 overs .Pakistan could score at an average of only 4.85 while Bangladesh after the rain required @ 7 plus. This is for the second time in succession Bangladesh failed to win Gold after playing so well all the way through. If this team had played a bit regularly at this level they could have kept their composure and win even from the position they were after 3 overs.
I was chatting with Aminul Islam Bulbul on Skype from morning when China was playing Sri Lanka for the bronze. He as Development officer of ACC is officiating during the tournament.
Bulbul was telling this time Bangladesh bowling and fielding looks much better while batting is a bit weak. However Pakistani bowling lacks penetration .If Bangladesh can bat first and score around 120 they have a bright prospect to win with their stronger bowling. But as it turned out Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.
Good Bangladesh bowling and enthusiastic fielding kept Pakistan under control. 98 runs in 20 overs under normal circumstances were not beyond Bangladeshi girls reach.
But nature intervened. Moderate to heavy rain at one stage almost threatened to wash away the match. Yet after rain receded and play resumed the revised target of 43 with all ten wickets at hand was not unassailable. Bangladesh also was well on course at 20/2 after three overs. But inexperience of winning big matches and that too final of a major tournament caused panic. If one of the openers who got run outs trying for abnormal runs could hold one end it could be easier for the others to throw the bat around. After playing so well throughout the tournament Bangladesh Tigress succumbed to the panic of the final losing the match by 4 runs and had to be contend remaining brides maid for the second time in succession.
Yet I would say given the very little attention and sponsorship compared to Bangladesh men’s team the girls did wonderfully well. Bowling and fielding is much improved. None of three teams Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan could take any liberty against Bangladesh bowling and fielding. Panna Ghosh, Rumana, Salma were outstanding bowlers of the tournament. Bangladesh batted well in earlier too matches. Ayesha Rahman, Lata Mandal, Fargana Huq and Salma Khatun have the potential to turn into useful batsmen. The team spirit as I have been told by Bulbul was excellent. Hard luck girls to us you are the winners.
While our large contingent could hardly create any completion in any event in Asiad our girls won the first laurels .Team tigress richly deserve a pat in the back. I hope Tigress will get greater attention for good mentoring and coaching, better facilities and regular exposure to international cricket at home and abroad to improve mental toughness.
** Bangladesh miss title for 4-run
** Rains delay Bangladesh batting
** Pak set 98-run target for Bangladesh
** Bangladesh picks up 5 Pak wickets
** Pakistan facing Bangladesh bowlers
BDST: 1530 HRS, SEP 26, 2014
