Pakistan stormed into their maiden Asian Games cricket final after defeating Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-shortened semi-final on Thursday.
Chasing 112 from 13 overs, Pakistan were in trouble at 53/4 before Abdul Samad and Hasan Nawaz turned the game around with an unbeaten 59-run partnership. Samad produced the decisive assault, smashing 22 runs from just five balls in the 10th over, including a six and four consecutive fours off Mustafizur Rahman. He finished unbeaten on 30 from 15 balls, while Nawaz remained not out on 27.
Earlier, Towhid Hridoy top-scored for Bangladesh with 42 off 25 balls as they posted 111/7. Pakistan’s bowlers had reduced Bangladesh to 45/4 before Hridoy’s counterattack helped them recover.
Pakistan will face India or Sri Lanka in Saturday’s gold-medal match. Bangladesh will play the losing semi-finalist for the bronze medal.