Pakistan Win Bronze in Cricket Event of Asian Games 2010

Naveed Latif Playing a shot against Zoysa

After an upset defeat from Afghanistan Cricket in Semi-Finals, Pakistan won bronze at the Asian Games after defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets and get third place Guangzhou Asian Games 2010. Khalid Latif, captain  of Pakistan, who was the only player with international experience, who made a brilliant half-century and make a partnership with 19-year-old Bilawal Bhatti, who hadn't played a single T20s before this tournament, for a quick 56-run stand that completed the victory with two over’s before finish.

Sri Lanka's batting that was not up to mark in last two matches, but they began confidently on Friday, winning toss and elected to bat first, with the international experienced pair of Nuwan Zoysa and Jeevantha Kulatunga putting 52 runs on board. Zoysa, who played 30 Tests for Sri Lanka as a left-arm seamer, has opened the innings for Sri Lanka in the Asian Games 2010, and made a run-a-ball 24, while Kulatunga raced to 31. However, Sri Lanka had a solid beginning as all their other batsmen, barring Dilshan Munaweera added 28 runs in Sri Lanka totals, made single-digit scores.

Sri Lanka kept their hopes of a medal with some regular early breakthroughs. Pakistan had worries as they reached to 85 with losing 4 wickets, though, were eased by Latif, who smashed three sixes in to the stands in an over off leg spinner Malinga Bandara. Bhatti finished off the match in typical sportsman style, with a six on Zoysa ball, by this defeat by outstanding side of Pakistan Sri Lanka returned empty-handed, though theirs was the team with the most international experience in the competition.

But in the end the result Pakistan get a bronze medal for Pakistan in debut of cricket event of Asian Games, so this was the end for Pakistan and Sri Lanka cricket teams in Asian Games 2010.