India Beat Pakistan by 19 Runs to Win Asian Games Final
News Desk
Japan: India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games cricket final on Saturday, defending a formidable 212-run target after the Green Shirts’ chase faltered despite a late fighting effort from Hasan Nawaz.
Pakistan finished at 192-6 in their 20 overs, leaving India to claim the gold medal after a high-scoring final at Korogi Sports Park.
Chasing 212, Pakistan made a promising start but quickly lost momentum. Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat added 33 runs before Farhan was dismissed by Washington Sundar for 10 off 11 balls.
Axar Patel then removed wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan for three, reducing Pakistan to 36-2 in 4.5 overs. Patel struck again soon after, dismissing Maaz for 23 off 18 balls and leaving Pakistan struggling at 39-3.
Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz rebuilt the innings with an 87-run partnership, taking Pakistan beyond the 100-run mark and briefly restoring hopes of a successful chase.
Nawaz was particularly aggressive, bringing up his third T20I half-century and keeping Pakistan in contention. However, Shivam Dube broke the partnership by dismissing Saim for 29 off 22 balls.
Pakistan were 162-5 when Sundar claimed his second wicket, removing Abdul Samad for nine in the 18th over.
Needing 33 runs from the final over, Pakistan could not produce the required acceleration. Nawaz remained unbeaten on a remarkable 96 from 51 balls, including five fours and seven sixes, but lacked sufficient support at the other end.
Saad Masood scored 12 as Pakistan ended on 192-6.
Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube took two wickets each for India.
Earlier, India had put Pakistan under immediate pressure after choosing to bat first. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma raced to 28 runs before Saim Ayub dismissed Sooryavanshi for 15 in the third over.
Abhishek continued his aggressive assault, taking India past 50 before Ahmed Daniyal dismissed Sanju Samson for two.
The left-hander then brought up his 13th T20I half-century before Arafat Minhas ended his innings at 61 off just 28 balls. His innings included three fours and seven sixes.
Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan attempted to consolidate the innings, but Pakistan struggled to contain India’s scoring rate in the middle and death overs.
Minhas dismissed Kishan for 20, while Abrar Ahmed removed Iyer for 21. Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma then accelerated the scoring, with Varma repeatedly targeting Pakistan’s bowlers in the closing overs.
Daniyal dismissed Dube for 27 off 15 balls with the first delivery of the final over, but Varma continued the assault.
Varma finished unbeaten on 51 from only 22 balls, striking three fours and four sixes, as India posted 211-6.
Daniyal and Minhas claimed two wickets apiece for Pakistan, while Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub took one each.
Pakistan’s defeat ultimately came down to the pressure of chasing a 212-run target and India’s ability to maintain a high scoring rate at crucial stages of the final.
