India Defeat Pakistan by 19 Runs to Retain Asian Games Cricket Gold

India retained the men’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games on Saturday, defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in a pulsating final at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan.

After opting to bat, India posted 211 for six from their 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma set the tone with a blistering 61 off 28 balls, his 13th T20 international half-century, while Tilak Varma smashed an unbeaten 51 off 22 balls and Shivam Dube chipped in with a quickfire 27, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Pakistan’s chase looked finished when they slipped to 39 for three, but Hasan Nawaz produced a stunning lone hand of 96 off 51 balls, clearing the ropes seven times to keep his side alive deep into the final over. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar picked up two wickets each to hold their nerve, and Pakistan closed on 192 for six.

The result means India defended the title they won in Hangzhou in 2023 — their second successive men’s gold — while the women’s team had already clinched gold earlier in the Games, completing an Indian golden double in cricket, according to The News. Pakistan, who fielded a second-string side, take home the silver after their best Asian Games cricket result, while Sri Lanka claimed the bronze by beating Bangladesh.

The two neighbours rarely meet outside major tournaments, and the captains reportedly skipped their customary pre-match handshake, SuperSport reported.

Sources

• ESPNcricinfo — match report
• The News — full match coverage
• SuperSport — final report