Pakistan settle for cricket silver after losing to India

Hasan Nawaz’s fighting 96 off 51 balls went in vain as Pakistan settled for the silver medal after going down to India by 19 runs in the final of the Asian Games Men’s Cricket Competition at Korogi Sports Park on Saturday.

Chasing 212, Pakistan finished on 192 for six after keeping the contest alive until the final over. Pakistan slipped to 39 for three in the seventh over before Hasan and Saim Ayub revived the chase with an 87-run fourth-wicket partnership.

Hasan struck five fours and seven sixes during his 51-ball innings and completed his half-century off 28 balls. Saim supported him with 29 off 22 balls, while Maaz Sadaqat contributed 23.

Right-handed batter Hasan continued to attack as the required rate climbed and took Pakistan’s chase deep into the final stages. He was dismissed off the last ball of the innings, four runs short of a century. Debutant Saad Masood remained unbeaten on 12 off five balls, including two sixes.

Earlier, Abhishek Sharma pummelled a 20-ball fifty on his way to 61 in a whirlwind start to the innings in front of a compact, but raucous, crowd at the Korogi Athletic Park Stadium, a converted baseball field.

India brought their 100 up off just 55 balls before Pakistan’s bowlers regained some control after dismissing the in-form Ishan Kishan for 20 and captain Shreyas Iyer for 21.

But Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube unleashed a late onslaught, putting on 62 in five overs for the sixth wicket as India recorded the highest score of the tournament so far, easily eclipsing their 169-7 against Sri Lanka in the semi-final.

For Pakistan, Arafat Minhas returned figures of two for 25, while Ahmed Daniyal grabbed two wickets. Abrar Ahmed conceded just 29 runs in his four overs and picked up one wicket, while Saim Ayub also took a wicket.