HANGZHOU: The Pakistan women’s cricket team’s pursuit for a third Asian Games gold ended with a six-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in the semi-final here at the Zhejiang University of Technology ground on Sunday.

Sri Lanka’s victory set them up for a clash against India in Monday’s final, the latter thrashing Bangladesh by 51 runs in the other semi-final. Pakistan and Bangladesh will vie for the bronze medal also on Monday.

In-form Sri Lanka, fresh from a stunning Twenty20 series victory in England, beat Pakistan by six wickets on Sunday to reach the women’s cricket final at the Asian Games and set up a clash with India.

Pakistan never got going on a difficult batting surface affected by days of rain and could only muster a below-par 75-9 in their 20 overs.

Left-arm medium pace bowler Udeshika Prabodhani led the Sri Lankan attack with three wickets and Kavisha Dilhari took two with her offspin.

Sri Lanka sauntered to their target with 21 balls to spare to spark wild celebrations as their players ran on to the field to high-five and hug each other.

Earlier, the Indians routed Bangladesh for 51 on the same ground with all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar, only drafted into the squad as a last-minute replacement, taking four wickets. They wasted no time in racing to an eight-wicket victory with more than 11 overs remaining as Jemimah Rodrigues top-scored with an unbeaten 20.

Pakistan had a triumphant outing in the hockey field as they thrashed Singapore 11-0 in their opening preliminary pool ‘A’ match. Arshad Liaqat and Arabaz Ahmed hit hat-tricks while Mohammad Sufyan Khan, Rana Abdul Waheed Ashraf, Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Ammad and Afraz chipped in with a goal each.

In taekwondo, Pakistan’s Naila missed out on the women’s individual poomsae semi-finals as she was undone by Japan’s Yuiko Niwa in the quarters.

Naila had earlier overcome Saudi Arabia’s Medha Abrar Bukhari.

Pakistan’s Aqdus Ullah Qadeer was eliminated by Nepal’s Prem Bahadur Limbu in men’s individual poomsae round-of-16.

The pair of veteran Aqeel Khan and Sarah Ibrahim Khan was victorious against Anand Gankhuyag and Khatansuikh Batbayar of Mongolia in the first round of the mixed doubles tennis event. Aqeel and Sarah beat the Mongolian pair 6-0, 6-1.

In the women’s singles first round, Pakistan’s Ushna Sohail got the bettet of Tajikistan’s Sumaya Tukhtaewa 6-2, 6-3. Sarah also registered a 6-2, 6(5)-7, 6-3 win against Qatar’s Hind Almudahka after a three-set battle.

In the men’s event, Aqeel was defeated by Uzbekistan’s Khumoyun Sultanov 6-1, 6-0 in the second round.

Elsewhere, Pakistan’s impressive journey in the volleyball discipline was brought to a halt by by Qatar as the national side lost 3-1.

Pakistan’s GM Bashir secured the eighth position after scoring 282 points with eight centres off target in the shooting event. Bashir recorded 98 points in eight seconds, then 97 in six seconds and 97 in four seconds.

Pakistan’s Mehak Fatima failed to qualify for the next round in women’s 10m air rifle. She finished 40th in the qualifying round.

In swimming, both of Pakistan’s swimmers Mohammad Amaan Siddiqui and Mohammad Ahmed Durrani failed to qualify for the next round.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2023