Abdul Samad and Hasan Nawaz put on an unbroken 59 runs from 32 balls for the fifth wicket to help Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets and reach their maiden Asian Games final on Thursday.

In Saturday’s gold-medal match, Pakistan will face defending champions India, who bowled out Sri Lanka for just 45 in 9.5 overs before completing a crushing 124-run victory in the second semi-final. Sri Lanka’s total was the lowest in T20Is featuring both Test playing nations.

In the first semi-final, Pakistan, chasing 112 for victory in a rain-reduced 13-over-a-side match, were in a spot of bother when Samad and Hasan came together at 53 for four in 6.1 overs. The pair then took their side home with nine balls and six wickets to spare.

Needing 36 runs from 24 balls, Samad launched a stunning assault on Mustafizur Rahman, hitting a six and four fours from five successive deliveries in a 23-run 10th over that reduced the equation to just 13 from 18 balls.

With four required for victory in the penultimate over, Hasan struck Rishad Hossain straight down the ground for four to seal Pakistan’s place in the final.

Samad finished unbeaten on 30 from 15 balls with five fours and a six, while Hasan, who struck two valuable sixes in the eighth over, remained not out on 27 from 22 balls with two fours and two sixes.

Saim Ayub (21 off 12 balls, one four and two sixes), Maaz Sadaqat (15 off seven, two fours and a six) and Usman Khan (14 off nine, one four and a six) made other useful contributions in a demanding chase in unfamiliar conditions.

Earlier, Sufyan Moqim took three for 26 and Arafat Minhas bagged two for 23 as Bangladesh posted a challenging 111 for seven after a wet outfield delayed the start of the match and reduced the contest to 13 overs a side.

Towhid Hridoy was Bangladesh’s leading scorer, hitting 42 from 25 balls with two fours and four sixes, while opener Saif Hassan (19) and Mosaddek Hossain (11) were the only other batters to reach double figures.

Saturday’s final will pit Pakistan against defending Asian Games champions and Asia Cup winners India. Pakistan will also have an opportunity to avenge last year’s defeat against India in the ACC Asia Cup in Dubai.

India reached the final in emphatic fashion.

Batting first, they posted 169 for seven in 20 overs after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided a rapid start by hitting six fours and two sixes in a 21-ball 38. Ishan Kishan then took control, finishing unbeaten on 80 from 46 balls with four fours and five sixes.

Sri Lanka, who handed T20I caps to three players, were virtually out of the contest by the end of the PowerPlay when they slumped to 32 for six. They were eventually bowled out for 45 in just 9.5 overs. The total eclipsed West Indies’ 45 in 11.5 overs against England at Basseterre in March 2019.

Jasprit Bumrah struck twice in his opening over, Axar Patel claimed two wickets and two Sri Lanka batters were run out during a disastrous PowerPlay. Bumrah finished with two for seven from two overs, Patel took two for eight, while Abhishek Sharma claimed wickets from successive deliveries to finish with two for two.

Scores in brief

1st semi-final – Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets

Bangladesh 111-7, 13 overs (Towhid Hridoy 42, Saif Hassan 19; Sufyan Moqim 3-26, Arafat Minhas 2-23)

Pakistan 112-4, 11.3 overs (Abdul Samad 30 not out, Hasan Nawaz 27 not out, Saim Ayub 21, Maaz Sadaqat 15, Usman Khan 14)

2nd semi-final – India beat Sri Lanka by 124 runs

India 169-7, 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 80 not out, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 38; Sahan Arachchige 2-28, Tharindu Ratnayake 2-32)

Sri Lanka 45 all out, 9.5 overs (Abhishek Sharma 2-2, Jasprit Bumrah 2-7, Axar Patel 2-8)