Gold gone, Bangladesh turn to the Asian Games bronze

Bangladesh's Asian Games gold-medal hopes are over, but their campaign still has a medal within reach after India ended their title challenge with a 114-run victory in the semifinal on Sunday.

India posted 196 for four after Shafali Verma produced an unbeaten century, and Bangladesh never recovered in the chase. The Tigresses were dismissed for 81 in 15.4 overs, leaving them well short of the target.

The defeat was particularly painful because it came only ten days after India had also beaten Bangladesh in the Women's Asia Cup semifinal in Dubai.

But there is still something to play for in Japan.

Bangladesh will meet Pakistan in the bronze-medal match on Tuesday after Pakistan lost their semifinal to Sri Lanka by eight wickets earlier on Sunday. Sri Lanka chased down Pakistan's 177 for four with 14 balls remaining to book their place in the gold-medal match against India.

For Nigar Sultana Joty's team, the bronze match now becomes an opportunity to finish the tournament with a medal despite the disappointment of missing the final.

Bangladesh's unusual route to the semifinal had already left them short of competitive cricket. Their quarterfinal against China was abandoned because of the conditions, allowing Bangladesh to advance on ranking. India, meanwhile, entered the semifinal after beating Japan by eight wickets.

The Pakistan match will therefore give the Tigresses one final chance to turn their Asian Games campaign into a podium finish.

It will also be another meeting between two familiar Asian rivals, with both teams now playing for a medal rather than a place in the final.

The gold is gone. Bangladesh still have one more match to decide how this campaign will be remembered.