WEB DESK: India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games cricket final on Saturday, securing the gold medal after successfully defending a target of 212 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan.
Chasing 212, Pakistan finished at 192-6 despite a late fightback led by Hasan Nawaz, who remained unbeaten on 96.
Pakistan made a cautious start, with Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat adding 33 runs for the opening wicket. India captain Washington Sundar broke the stand by removing Farhan for 10 off 11 balls.
Axar Patel then struck in the following over, sending Usman Khan back for three as Pakistan slipped to 36-2.
Patel claimed another wicket soon after, dismissing Maaz for 23 off 18 balls, leaving Pakistan struggling at 39-3 after 6.1 overs.
Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz responded with a strong 87-run partnership to revive the chase. Nawaz continued his impressive tournament with another half-century, while Saim contributed 29 off 22 balls, including two fours and a six.
The partnership ended when Shivam Dube dismissed Saim, while Sundar later removed Abdul Samad for nine to leave Pakistan at 162-5 in the 18th over.
Pakistan needed 33 runs from the final over, but could only add enough to finish on 192-6. Nawaz’s unbeaten 96 came from 51 balls and included five fours and seven sixes, while Saad Masood scored 12.
Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube took two wickets apiece for India.
India post 211-6
Earlier, India opted to bat first and immediately put Pakistan’s bowlers under pressure through openers Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma.
The opening stand produced 28 runs before Saim Ayub struck with the first ball of the third over, dismissing Sooryavanshi for 15 off nine balls.
Abhishek maintained the attacking tempo and took India beyond 50 in the fourth over. Pakistan then removed Sanju Samson, who made two off four balls, with Ahmed Daniyal providing the breakthrough.
Abhishek continued his aggressive display and completed his 13th T20I half-century before Arafat Minhas ended his innings for 61 off just 28 balls. His knock included three fours and seven sixes.
Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan attempted to rebuild the innings, adding 35 runs before Minhas struck again to dismiss Kishan for 20 off 18 balls.
Abrar Ahmed then removed India captain Iyer for 21, but Dube and Tilak Varma accelerated the scoring in the closing overs.
Dube made 27 from 15 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes, before Daniyal dismissed him with the opening delivery of the final over.
Varma continued attacking and struck successive sixes off Sufiyan Muqeem before bringing up his half-century. He finished unbeaten on 51 from 22 balls, including three fours and four sixes, as India reached 211-6.
Daniyal and Minhas finished with two wickets each for Pakistan, while Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub claimed one apiece.
The result earned India the Asian Games gold medal, while Pakistan settled for silver.
