Bangladesh cricket team beat Afghanistan by 5 wickets in the men's final in Guangzhou on Friday to win the first-ever gold in any sport in any Asian Games.
Tigers clinched their historic victory reaching their 119-run target with three balls to spare and five wickets in hand.
Afghanistan, winning the toss, chose to bat and scored 118 for eight in the stipulated 20 overs.
Asghar Stanikzai scored 38 off 38 balls, while 25 runs came from the bat of Shabir Noori.
Naeem Islam, Shahadat Hossain, Mohammed Ashraful took 2 wickets each, while Nazmul Hossain and Nasir Hossain took 1 wicket apiece.
Bangladesh did not have a good start in its chase. Opener Nazimuddin left the crease scoring only five, while Mithun Ali got out on 22. The Tigers were under pressure when skipper Ashraful was bowled out by Karim Sadiq on 10 while trying an overhead shot.
The eventual winners fell into deep trouble when Faisal Hossain was out for 3 and Shuvagata Hom for 1 run.
But Naeem Islam played some sensible cricket laying the foundation for victory. He stuck out throughout the innings, slowly but steadily, scoring 34 off 41 balls, including a six and three boundaries.
Bangladesh were 75/5 when they lost their last wicket. Shabbir Rahman came in when Bangladesh desperately required some big hits. And he delivered, hitting three huge sixes. Shabbir scored 33 off just 18 balls.
"I had a good talk with Naeen before the 19th over and we went for it," Shabbir said. "Luckily, it came good. There was no pressure on me, but I am sure my team-mates in the dressing room were tense."
Ashraful admitted he had given up hope towards the end. "I was feeling a bit low but then Shabbir came and did the job for us," he said. "There was a bit of pressure because Afghanistan are a very good side and this was our first major final."
Afghanistan received backing from Bangladesh, who won their country's first ever Asian Games gold medal. "We are celebrating, but I hope Afghanistan will celebrate too because they deserve the silver medal," Imran Sarwar, the Bangladesh coach, said. "They are a very good side and I am sure they will become a top team in the near future. Their rise has been remarkable.
"This was not an easy win at all. We expected them to make around 100 or 110, but they went to 118 and then kept us under pressure till the end."
Cricket has been Bangladesh's most productive sporting discipline at the Asian Games so far - besides the men's gold, they have won silver in the women's competition. They have only one other medal in the Asian Games so far, a bronze in kabaddi.
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