India’s men’s cricket team beat Pakistan by 19 runs to win Asian Games gold. It completes a double gold after the women’s team.
India’s men’s cricket team beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games gold medal final on Saturday, completing a cricket double gold after the Indian women’s team also won their final, with captain Shreyas Iyer’s side defending a total built on half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Verma. India posted 211-6 in 20 overs, with Abhishek Sharma scoring 61 and Verma finishing unbeaten on 51.
Pakistan responded strongly behind Hasan Nawaz’s 96 off 51 balls, which included five fours and seven sixes, and an 87-run stand with Saim Ayub, who added 29. Pakistan reached 126-4 after 14.1 overs before Shivam Dube broke the partnership, dismissing Saim with a catch taken by Washington Sundar. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar each finished with 2-29, while Dube took 2-33, as India’s bowling attack held firm to restrict Pakistan to 192-6 at the close, sealing the 19-run victory despite Hasan Nawaz’s efforts falling short.
The win marks India’s first appearance and first gold medal in men’s cricket at the Asian Games, following the women’s team’s own title earlier in the competition in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the results reflect India’s growing dominance in white-ball cricket. The victory also continues India’s recent run of success against Pakistan in major limited-overs tournaments.
This report is based on information from ANI (via India TV News) and Gulf News