India defeat Pakistan in Asian Games final to clinch cricket gold

Pakistan lost to arch-rivals India by 19 runs in the Asian Games men’s cricket gold-medal match in Nagoya on Saturday.

Chasing a mammoth target of 212, Pakistan finished at 192 for 8 in their 20 overs, with Hasan Nawaz top-scoring with a brilliant 96 off 51 balls.

Pakistan got off to a difficult start as captain Sahibzada Farhan scored 10 off 11 balls before being caught off Washington Sundar. Opener Maaz Sadaqat made 23 off 18, while Usman Khan was dismissed for three off six balls.

Sadaqat was bowled by Axar Patel in the seventh over before Hasan Nawaz and Saim Ayub put together a partnership of more than 80 runs to revive Pakistan’s chase.

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Ayub scored 29 off 22 balls before being caught off Shivam Dube in the 15th over, leaving Nawaz to lead the chase. Despite his 96, Pakistan fell short of the target.

Earlier, India posted 211-6 in 20 overs after opting to bat.

Abhishek Sharma provided India with a flying start, smashing a 20-ball half-century before making 61 in an aggressive opening spell at Korogi Athletic Park Stadium.

India reached 100 in just 55 balls before Pakistan’s bowlers regained some control with the dismissals of in-form batter Ishan Kishan for 20 and captain Shreyas Iyer for 21.

Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube then launched a late assault, adding 62 runs for the sixth wicket in five overs to take India to 211-6.

India’s total was the highest of the tournament, surpassing their 169-7 against Sri Lanka in the semi-final.