Hasan Nawaz struck a fighting 96 but Pakistan fell 19 runs short of a 212-run target against India in the Asian Games men’s cricket final on Saturday, settling for the silver medal at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. India’s victory secured a second consecutive Asian Games gold in men’s cricket.
Chasing India’s 211 for six, Pakistan finished on 192 for six from their 20 overs despite Hasan’s 51-ball innings, which included five fours and seven sixes. He was dismissed from the final delivery of the match, caught behind by Sanju Samson off Shivam Dube.
Pakistan required 33 runs from the final over after reaching 179 for five. Hasan struck Dube for a four and a six to keep the chase alive, but a yorker followed by two dot balls effectively ended Pakistan’s hopes.
Needing four runs from the final delivery to complete his century, Hasan attempted to clear the infield but was caught by Samson, bringing an end to an innings that had revived Pakistan after an early collapse.
Pakistan had slipped to 39 for three before Hasan and Saim Ayub led a recovery with an 87-run fourth-wicket partnership. Saim scored 29 off 22 deliveries before being dismissed with Pakistan on 126.
Hasan reached his half-century from 28 balls and continued to attack India’s bowling through the middle overs, with Ravi Bishnoi conceding 44 runs from his three overs.
Pakistan reached 160 for four after 17 overs, requiring 52 runs from the final 18 deliveries. Saad Masood then struck two sixes in an unbeaten 12 off five balls, but Jasprit Bumrah’s penultimate over left Pakistan needing 33 from six deliveries.
Earlier, India posted 211 for six after choosing to bat first. Abhishek Sharma provided the early momentum with 61 from 28 balls, including three fours and seven sixes, while Tilak Varma produced an unbeaten 51 from 22 balls. Contemporary match reports also confirmed India’s 211-run total and 19-run victory.
Shivam Dube added 27 from 15 balls and shared a 62-run sixth-wicket partnership with Varma, helping India accelerate after Pakistan had taken several wickets through the middle overs.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 15 from nine balls, Shreyas Iyer made 21 off 24, while Ishan Kishan contributed 20 from 18 deliveries.
For Pakistan, Arafat Minhas took two wickets for 25 runs from three overs, while Ahmed Daniyal claimed two for 43. Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub picked up one wicket each.
Pakistan’s chase initially lost momentum after Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan and Maaz Sadaqat were dismissed in quick succession. Farhan made 10, Usman three and Maaz 23 before Hasan and Saim mounted the recovery.
India’s win allowed them to successfully defend the men’s cricket title they won at the 2023 Asian Games, while Pakistan finished with the silver medal.
