Islamabad: Umm-e-Hani’s superb three-wicket spell and captain Fatima Sana’s counter-attacking 45 helped Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 31 runs and claim the bronze medal in the women’s cricket competition at the Asian Games in Nisshin, Japan on Tuesday.
Umm-e-Hani conceded only 10 runs in her four overs, including a wicket-maiden, as Pakistan overcame Bangladesh’s early resistance to restrict them to 114 for seven after posting 145 for eight.
The medal is Pakistan’s third in the women’s cricket competition at the Asian Games, following gold-medal triumphs in 2010 and 2014.
It also marked a measure of redemption for Pakistan, who had lost the bronze-medal match to Bangladesh at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Pakistan had been in danger of posting a modest total after collapsing from 46 without loss to 67 for five, but Fatima changed the course of the innings with an aggressive 30-ball 45.
The captain, who struck three fours and three sixes, added 67 from 43 balls with Aliya Riaz to take Pakistan towards a competitive total. Aliya contributed 25 from 22 balls, including two sixes and a four.
Fatima’s innings was particularly significant in the context of her prolific year. She entered the match as Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in women’s Twenty20 internationals in 2026 and took her tally to 540 with Tuesday’s knock. She also remains Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is this year.
Earlier, Pakistan made a steady start after Fatima won the toss and elected to bat, with Gull Feroza and Shawaal Zulfiqar putting on 46 in 6.4 overs.
Gull struck six fours in her 23-ball 31 before Nahida Akter ended the opening stand, while Shawaal made 17 from 27 balls.
Bangladesh then seized control, taking five wickets for 21 runs to leave Pakistan struggling at 67 for five. Fatima and Aliya, however, rebuilt the innings before accelerating after Pakistan reached 90 for five in 15 overs.
Fatima struck Rabeya Khan for six before both batters cleared the ropes against Sanjida Akter in the 17th over. Pakistan added 55 runs in the final five overs, although Bangladesh hit back by taking two wickets and conceding only seven in the final over.
.The bronze-medal victory ensured they returned home from the Asian Games with a podium finish.
India and Sri Lanka will contest for the gold medal.
