GUANGZHOU: Favourites Pakistan and rising stars Bangladesh qualified for the women’s Twenty20 cricket gold medal contest at the Asian Games with nine-wicket victories in the semi-finals on Thursday.

The Bangladesh spinners combined to dismiss China for a lowly 34 runs in 16.5 overs, and the batters needed just 6.5 overs to reach the victory target, finishing 35 for one.

In the second semi-final match, Pakistan chased down 62 runs in 10.4 overs for the loss of opener Javeria Wadood (29) after Japan managed 61-8 off its allotted 20 overs. Nida Rashid remained unbeaten on 27 off 29 balls.

Ema Kuribayashi, who scored a half century against Nepal on Wednesday, again top scored for Japan with 24 before she holed out off the bowling of spinner Rashid.

Spinner Sana Gulzar (2-8) was the main wicket-taker for Pakistan.

Earlier, Bangladesh opener Fargana Pinky scored better than a run-a-ball unbeaten 20 after spinners Salma Khatun (3-4), Suktaraa Na (2-0) and Shohaly Akhter (2-5) ran through the China batting.

Medium fast bowler Jahanara Alam (2-6) gave Bangladesh a perfect start when she bowled star batter Sun Huan (1) as Japan lost wickets with regular intervals.

“We are just babies (of cricket) if you compare us with them,” Sun told reporters of the vast difference in experience between the teams. “It’s good enough for us to make it to the top four.”

Pakistan and Bangladesh meet Friday in the final, while China plays Japan for bronze medal. —AFP