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Bangladesh clinches gold

GUANGZHOU: Bangladesh cricketers won their nation's first ever Asian Games gold medal by ending Afghanistan's dream run in the inaugural final on Friday.

Mohammad Ashraful's men ensured their place in history with a five-wicket victory in a thrilling Twenty20 final in front of 2,000 excited spectators at the Guanggong cricket stadium.

The Afghan bravehearts, who had stunned Pakistan by 22 runs in Thursday's semifinal, fought till the end despite being restricted to 118 for eight after they won the toss and elected to bat.

Bangladesh was reduced to 75 for five by the 16th over, before the sixth-wicket pair of Naeem Islam and Mohammad Shabbir put on an unbeaten 44-run partnership to secure a memorable win.

With 19 needed off 12 balls, the pair hammered 17 runs in the penultimate over bowled by off-spinner Karim Sadeq, including two towering sixes by Shabbir, to seal Afghanistan's fate.

Naeem returned unbeaten on 34 and Shabbir smashed 33 not out off 18 balls to clinch victory that will spark wild celebrations in the cricket-mad South Asian nation.

Afghanistan, a non-Test playing nation, took part in the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean this year and narrowly missed qualifying for the 2011 World Cup. Naeem had earlier taken two wickets for eight runs from three overs to keep Afghanistan down to a modest total.

Afghanistan was 66 for six by the 13th over, before Mohammad Asghar revived its chances with an unbeaten 38 off 36 balls, sharing a crucial stand of 44 for the seventh wicket with Shabbir Ahmed (25).

Asghar boosted the total with 16 runs in the 17th over bowled by Nazmul Hossain that included a massive six over the straight field.

Bronze for Pakistan

Pakistan, meanwhile, clinched the bronze medal with an emphatic six-wicket win over Sri Lanka.

Skipper Khalid Latif led Pakistan's charge with an unbeaten 53 off 42 balls which helped his team overtake Sri Lanka's 135 all out with two overs to spare. — AFP

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