Asian Games final: India beat Pakistan as Hasan Nawaz fights back

India have claimed the gold medal in the Asian Games T20 cricket final after defeating Pakistan by 19 runs. The Green Shirts bagged silver after fighting back while chasing the target of 212 runs.

Pakistan scored 192 runs for the loss of six wickets. Hasan Nawaz dominated the scoreboard with 96 runs, followed by Saim Ayub (29) and Maaz Sadaqat (23). Tail-ender Saad Masood scored 12 runs with two sixes in the finishing overs.

Indian bowlers Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube claimed two wickets each. Earlier, India set a target of 212 runs after scoring 211 runs for the loss of six wickets.

Indian rising batting stars Abhishek Sharma (61 off 28 balls) and Tilak Varma (51 not out off 22 balls) led the scoreboard. On the other hand, Ahmed Daniyal and Arafat Minhas claimed two dismissals each for Pakistan, while Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub took one wicket each.

India’s victory in the Asian Games final extends their winning streak against Pakistan to seven consecutive T20 internationals. Despite that, the streak of no handshake after the toss also continues. The final of the “mother of all cricket rivalries” was played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan.