India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs to retain the men’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games on Saturday, with Hasan Nawaz’s unbeaten 96 unable to take his team across the line.
Chasing 212, Pakistan were kept in check by India’s spin duo of Washington Sundar and Axar Patel, who claimed two wickets each, while Shivam Dube also picked up two late wickets to restrict the chase.
Hasan kept Pakistan’s hopes alive with an unbeaten 96 off 51 balls, but India held their nerve to secure another gold medal in the men’s cricket event.
Earlier, Abhishek Sharma smashed the fastest fifty by an Indian batter against Pakistan in T20Is before Tilak Varma produced a late assault as India overcame a sluggish surface to post 211/6 in 20 overs.
Abhishek reached his half-century in just 20 balls, improving on his previous 24-ball effort against Pakistan in Dubai in 2025. He eventually scored 61 off 28 balls, hitting three fours and seven sixes.
Tilak then struck a 21-ball fifty and, along with Shivam Dube, added 62 runs for the sixth wicket to give India a strong finish.
Brief scores: India 211/6 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 61, Tilak Varma 51 not out; Arafat Minhas 2-25, Ahmed Daniyal 2-43) beat Pakistan 192/9 in 20 overs (Hasan Nawaz 96 not out, Saim Ayub 29; Washington Sundar 2-29, Axar Patel 2-29) by 19 runs.
(IANS Inputs)
