India clinched back-to-back Asian Games gold medals in men’s cricket on Saturday by overcoming arch-rivals Pakistan by 19 runs in the final clash at Korogi Sports Park, where they posted a strong score of 211/6 in their 20 overs before resilient bowling contained Pakistan to 192/6 despite a brilliant late push from Hasan Nawaz, matching the earlier golden success of the Indian women’s team to complete a memorable double. Choosing to bat first worked wonders as opening batter Abhishek Sharma and middle-order mainstay Tilak Varma dismantled the opposition bowling, starting with Abhishek’s explosive 61 off 28 balls containing three fours and seven blazing sixes that brought up his fifty in just 20 balls and gave India vital early energy amidst regular dismissals. Tilak Varma then steered the final phase of the innings brilliantly, finishing unbeaten on 51 from 22 balls to drive the total well past the 200-run mark, leaving India closing their innings at 211/6 and requiring Pakistan to chase a stiff target of 212.
