Asian Games final: Pakistan reach 76-3 at halfway stage as India bowlers dominate

Pakistan needed 136 runs from the final 10 overs to win the Asian Games men’s cricket final after reaching 76 for three at the halfway stage of their chase of India’s 212 at the Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Japan on Saturday. Hasan Nawaz was beginning to find his range, hitting three sixes in an unbeaten 26 off 18 balls, while Saim Ayub was not out on 12 off nine as Pakistan sought to keep their chase alive. Pakistan had been 39 for three after the dismissal of Maaz Sadaqat at the start of the seventh over, but Hasan and Saim put on 34 from 23 balls to give the chase some momentum. Maaz had earlier provided the main resistance after Pakistan lost Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Khan in successive overs. He made 23 off 18 balls, with three fours, before being caught by Washington Sundar off Axar Patel. Hasan then struck two sixes in the ninth over against Abhishek Sharma and another two in the following over from Ravi Bishnoi as Pakistan reached 76 for three after 10 overs. They require 13. 60 runs an over from the remaining 60 balls. Pakistan had made a brisk start to the chase, reaching 21 without loss after two overs, but lost Farhan for 10 off 11 in the fourth over. The captain attempted a slog-sweep against Washington and was caught by Axar at deep midwicket. Usman, who made three off six balls, followed in the next over when he attempted to slog a fuller delivery from Axar and was caught by Shivam Dube at midwicket. Maaz’s dismissal had left Pakistan 39 for three at the end of the sixth over. Axar had taken two wickets for 15 runs from three overs, while Washington had one for 13 from two. Ravi Bishnoi had conceded 24 in his two overs without taking a wicket. Varma stars Earlier, India posted 211 for six after being asked to bat first, with Tilak Varma producing an unbeaten 51 off 22 balls and Shivam Dube supplying the late impetus with 27 off 15. The pair added 62 from 31 balls for the sixth wicket to propel India beyond 200 after Pakistan had made regular breakthroughs through the middle overs. Abhishek Sharma gave India a flying start, scoring 61 off 28 balls with three fours and seven sixes. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributed 15 off nine before falling to Saim Ayub, while Sanju Samson was dismissed for two by Ahmed Daniyal. India were 81 for two after the six-over powerplay, with Abhishek having already reached his half-century. Pakistan, however, managed to slow the scoring rate and picked up further wickets as the innings progressed. Shreyas Iyer made 21 off 24 balls before becoming the fifth wicket at 133 in the 15th over, while Ishan Kishan scored 20 off 18. With India five down and 77 runs still required to reach 200, Varma and Dube launched the decisive assault. Varma reached his half-century from 21 balls and finished unbeaten with three fours and four sixes. Dube hit two fours and two sixes before being dismissed by Ahmed Daniyal in the first ball of the final over. India scored 114 runs in the first 10 overs and added another 97 in the second half, with the final three overs bringing 57 runs. Varma and Dube’s partnership accounted for much of the late acceleration, while Axar Patel remained unbeaten on one off one ball. Pakistan’s bowling figures were led by Arafat Minhas, who took two wickets for 25 runs from three overs, and Ahmed Daniyal, who claimed two for 43. Abrar Ahmed took one for 29 and Saim one for 47, while Saad Masood and Sufyan Moqim went wicketless. Pakistan also conceded 13 extras, including 11 wides, as India finished on their highest total of the match. India’s total left Pakistan needing 212 for the gold medal, with the defending champions seeking to retain the title they won at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Pakistan are pursuing their first men’s cricket gold at the Asian Games.

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