Bangladesh win cricket gold in South Asian Games

Hosts Bangladesh snatched a narrow six-run victory over Sri Lanka to clinch the Under-21 Twenty20 cricket gold medal in 11th South Asian Games on Sunday.

Electing to bat, Bangladesh rode on Anamul Haque's 43 to score 157 for seven in the stipulated 20 overs and then restricted Sri Lanka to 151.

For the hosts, leg-spinner Shabbir Rahman scalped four wickets for 31 runs and played the wrecker-in-chief.

With one wicket remaining, Sri Lanka needed six runs from the last two balls as the match headed to a close finish. But Rahman scalped Naveen Kavikara for his fourth wicket in the penultimate ball of the match to clinch the issue.

Bangladesh got the gold, while Sri Lanka had to settle for the silver in the T20 format that was introduced for the first time in the SAG.

Pakistan won the silver after overcoming Nepal in the bronze medal play-off match.

India did not participate in the cricket competition.

Brief scores:

Bangladesh: 157/7 in 20 overs (Anamul Haque 43, MD Mithun 37; Thisara Perera 2/35, Sachith Pathirana 2/22).

Sri Lanka: 151 all out in 19.5 overs (Lahiru Thirimanne 39; Shabbir Rahman 4/31).

PTI