Pakistan and Bangladesh met in the third-place play-off for the bronze medal in the 2023 Asian Games today (October 7). The match was reduced to a five-overs-a-side shootout due to rain and it produced a nail-biting finish, with Bangladesh coming out on top to clinch the bronze.

Batting first, Pakistan scored 48-1 from their five overs. Mirza Baig remained unbeaten on 32 off 18, while his opening partner Khushdil Shah struggled his way through to a 10-ball 14. For Bangladesh, Rakibul Hasan bowled two economical overs for just 12 runs and picked the only Pakistani wicket to fall, that of Khushdil.

Bangladesh were handed a revised DLS target of 65. At a required rate of 13 runs per over, it was never going to be easy. They needed a good start but got the exact opposite.

Zakir Hasan and Saif Hasan were dismissed for ducks inside the first three balls of the innings, leaving them at 1-2. Afif Hossain and Yasir Ali, both experienced at the senior international level, then turned the tide in Bangladesh’s favour.

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The second over, bowled by Arafat Minhas, produced a whopping 29 runs. After three overs, Bangladesh were 40-2, needing another 25 in two overs for the bronze. However, three of the first four balls of the fourth over, bowled by Arshad Iqbal, were dot balls, taking the equation to 24 off eight.

Afif hit a boundary on the fifth ball, before getting dismissed on the last, leaving Bangladesh with 20 to get off the last over.

Yasir Ali smoked two sixes off the first three balls of the last over, by Sufiyan Muqeem, to raise Bangladeshi hopes once again before being dismissed off the fifth ball for 34 off 16, leaving his team with four to get off the last ball.

Rakibul, the star with the ball for Bangladesh, came out at No.6 and in a display of nerves of steel, hit a boundary to seal the bronze medal for his team in thrilling fashion.

This was only the second medal for Bangladesh in the 2023 Asian Games till the time of writing.

The gold medal match between India and Afghanistan is scheduled to be played today (October 7) from 2 pm local time at the same venue.