In a nail-biting quarter-final at the Asian Games 2023, Bangladesh pulled off a remarkable victory over Malaysia in the men's cricket event.
Afif Hossain showcased his nerve by defending just 5 runs in the climactic final over. Malaysia, in pursuit of 117, stood at 112 for 7, with Virandeep Singh unbeaten on 52. However, the key player couldn't see Malaysia through to the semi-finals, falling to Afif in the penultimate over's fourth ball.
With just two singles off the last two deliveries, Afif ensured Bangladesh's thrilling entry into the semi-finals, where they will face India on October 5.
Earlier, Bangladesh posted a modest 116 for 5 in their 20 overs. Their innings had a rocky start with Parvez Hossain and Mahmudul Hasan Joy departing without troubling the scorers. Zakir Hassan added just a single run. Captain Saif Hassan, however, steadied the ship with a crucial half-century, helping the team recover from a precarious 3 for 3.
On the bowling front, Afif and Ripon Mondol were the standouts for Bangladesh, each claiming three wickets, defending their team's modest total on a high-scoring Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field.
In another quarter-final, India overcame Nepal, largely due to Yashasvi Jaiswal's explosive century. He became the youngest Indian to notch up a T20I hundred, smashing eight boundaries and seven maximums to amass 202 runs from just 49 deliveries. India concluded their innings at 202 for 4 in 20 overs.
While India's batting shone, their bowlers had a mixed day. Shivam Dube and Sundar had off days, and Arshdeep struggled with his line and length. However, Bishnoi was the pick of the bowlers, securing three wickets, and debutant Sai Kishore was economical, conceding only 24 runs in his four-over spell.
Nepal, though defeated, showcased their mettle, falling short by a mere 23 runs. Their spirited performance against a formidable Indian side was commendable.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
New Legends League Cricket season to span five new cities; set for grand kick-off in November 2023
Does Team India want to win World Cup 2023 for Virat Kohli? Harbhajan Singh's blunt reply on million dollar question
