NAGOYA: Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 31 runs to secure the bronze medal in the women’s cricket event at the 2026 Asian Games at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Tuesday.
All-rounder Fatima Sana scored 45 to help Pakistan post 145-7, and then right-arm off-spinner Umm-e-Hani took 3-10 to help restrict Bangladesh to 114-7 in the allotted 20 overs.
The bronze was Pakistan’s third medal in the women’s cricket event at the Asian Games. They won gold in 2010 and 2014. In 2022, Pakistan lost the Bronze Medal match to Bangladesh.
Fatima won the toss and opted to bat first.
Pakistan made a strong start after Gull Feroza struck 31 from 23 balls, including six fours, and Shawaal Zulfiqar added 17 as they put on 46 for the opening wicket.
Bangladesh fought back, taking five wickets for 21 runs to reduce Pakistan to 90-5 after 15 overs.
It was at this juncture that Fatima Sana – the leading run-scorer for Pakistan in WT20Is in 2026 – came to the team’s rescue with the bat in tandem with Aliya Riaz as the duo stitched a game-changing 67-run stand off 43 balls. Fatima took her tally of WT20I runs to 540 in 2026 with a superb 30-ball 45 that included three sixes and as many fours.
Fatima then joined Aliya Riaz to revive the innings with a 67-run partnership from 43 balls. Fatima’s 30-ball 45 included three sixes and three fours, while Riaz made 25 from 22 balls, hitting two sixes and a four.
Pakistan scored 55 runs in the final five overs despite losing two wickets in the last over.
Bangladesh’s bowlers Nahid Akter, Shorna Akter and Ritu Moni took two wickets each.
Bangladesh struggled from the outset in their chase as Hani dismissed Juairiya Ferdous and Sobhana Mostary for single figures, while Tasmia Rubab removed Dilara Akter for 12.
Saira Jabeen took all three catches with the one off Tasmia’s bowling being a spectacular grab at cover boundary.
Bangladesh were reduced to 20-3 after 4.3 overs and never recovered. Nigar Sultana made 25 before being dismissed for leg before wicket in the 14th over, while Sharmin Akhter remained unbeaten on 46 from 45 balls.
Hani registered her best bowling figures of 3-10 when she got rid of Shorna for six surpassing her previous haul of 2-28 against Sri Lanka in Dambulla this year. Her spell also included a wicket-maiden fifth over. Nashra Sundhu grabbed the seventh Bangladesh wicket with the score at 93 before they finished with 114-7.
Fatima also took one wicket, dismissing Ritu Moni, to take her tally to 31 wickets in women’s T20 internationals in 2026.
