India Beat Pakistan by 50 Runs to Complete Asian Games Cricket Double
India retained the men's T20 gold medal after the women's team won the tournament earlier in the Aichi-Nagoya Games
India celebrate after defeating Pakistan in the Asian Games men's cricket final in Nisshin.
India defeated Pakistan by 50 runs in the Asian Games men's cricket final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin to retain the gold medal and complete a cricket double after the women's team won the tournament earlier in the Games. India made 211 for six before restricting Pakistan to 161 for four in a rain-reduced 18-over chase.
Abhishek Sharma scored 61 from 40 balls and captain Shreyas Iyer added 55 as India built a strong total. The pair's contributions gave the defending champions the platform to post 211 despite Pakistan's bowling efforts.
Pakistan's chase was reduced to 18 overs because of rain. The revised target was 212, leaving Pakistan needing a higher scoring rate as the innings progressed.
Pakistan reached 161 for four in 17.1 overs, falling 50 runs short of the required total. India's bowlers maintained pressure through the middle overs and prevented Pakistan from completing the chase.
The victory secured India's second consecutive Asian Games men's cricket gold medal. It also completed a cricket double for India, following the women's team's T20 gold medal at the same Games.
India entered the final after beating Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the semi-final. Pakistan had defeated Bangladesh by 31 runs in the other semi-final to reach the championship match.
The final was the latest India-Pakistan meeting in Asian Games cricket. India retained the title after defending the gold medal won at the previous Games.
The result gave India another major trophy in the men's T20 format. Pakistan finished with the silver medal after falling short in the revised chase.
India's batting set up the win before the bowlers completed the defence. The final confirmed India's place at the top of the Asian Games cricket standings. The 211 total proved sufficient after Pakistan's chase was cut short by rain and India's attack restricted the required runs from being reached
