Soumya and Co. beat Sri Lanka in final to claim gold

Soumya Sarkar and Co. clinched gold, defeating Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the T20 cricket final of the 13th South Asian Games at Kirtipur today.

Openers Soumya and Saif Hassan gave the team a solid start in chase of Sri Lanka's 122. Soumya had a good tournament so far but this time failed to capitalize on his good start, falling to Kamindu Mendis after scoring 27 in the eighth over. Saif signaled his intent, hitting two back-to-back sixes in the 11th over but he lost his wicket next over to a run out after scoring 33.

Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Yasir Ali then took guard and the latter hit a six and a four to get Bangladesh closer to the elusive gold before Yasir fell with the team close to the win. Nazmul and Afif Hossain ensured that Bangladesh reached the target without losing any more wickets with the latter striking a boundary to take Bangladesh over the ropes with 11 deliveries to spare during his 28-ball 35.

Earlier, a solid bowling effort saw Bangladesh men's cricket team restrict Sri Lanka to 122 all out in the men's cricket final of the 13th South Asian Games at Kirtipur today.

Sri Lanka had dominated the Bangladesh bowling attack yesterday in the final group fixture, handing them their first loss in the tournament during a nine-wicket win. Having won the toss, skipper Soumya sent Sri Lanka in to bat but this time the Lankans did not find runs so easily.

The opening pair started brightly but Nishan Madushka fell to medium pacer Sumon Khan and two more wickets fell in the space of six deliveries as Lasith Croopsule, who had demolished Bangladesh attack yesterday and Kamindu Mendis both fell in the same over.

Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka then fell to spinner Mahedi Hasan's web in the 12th over. Shammu Ahsan struck a team-high 25 off 20 deliveries but regular wickets saw Sri Lanka all out in the final delivery of the 20th over with Hasan Mahmud the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh, picking up three wickets for 20 runs.