Pakistan win silver medal after 19-run defeat to India in Asian Games T20 final

Pakistan won the silver medal after losing to India by 19 runs in the Asian Games men’s T20 final on Saturday, with their chase of 212 ending at 192 for six in a closely contested gold-medal match in Nisshin.

Pakistan finished on 192 for six after 20 overs, with Nawaz scoring 96 from 51 balls, including five fours and seven sixes. His dismissal from the final delivery ended Pakistan’s chase after they had remained within reach during much of the second half of the innings.

India had earlier posted 211 for six after being asked to bat, with Tilak Varma making an unbeaten 51 from 22 balls and Shivam Dube contributing 27 from 15.

Nawaz keeps Pakistan in the chase

Pakistan’s pursuit went through contrasting phases. After losing three wickets during the early overs, Nawaz and Saim Ayub rebuilt the innings with an attacking partnership.

Ayub made 29 from 22 balls, while Nawaz reached his half-century from 28 deliveries. Their partnership helped Pakistan recover from 39 for two and move into a position where the required rate remained manageable.

Nawaz then attacked Ravi Bishnoi during the 13th over, hitting two sixes and a four as Pakistan collected 20 runs. The innings moved to 117 for three, with Nawaz reaching 54 from 29 balls.

India responded with the return of Dube, who removed Ayub with the first delivery of the 15th over. Ayub attempted to work the ball into the leg side but was caught by Washington Sundar, leaving Pakistan 126 for four.

Nawaz continued to attack, however, and reached 68 from 36 balls by the end of the 16th over. Abdul Samad provided support as Pakistan moved to 144 for four.

India hold their nerve at the finish

Pakistan entered the final three overs requiring 52 runs from 18 deliveries. Nawaz and Samad kept the chase alive, but Sundar struck again in the 18th over when Samad was caught by Tilak Varma for nine.

Saad Masood joined Nawaz and immediately hit Sundar for six, but Pakistan still needed 44 from the final two overs.

Bumrah bowled the 19th over and conceded 11 runs, including a six by Masood. Pakistan reached 179 for five, requiring 33 from the final six deliveries.

Nawaz struck Dube for a four and a six during the final over, but the target remained beyond Pakistan. He was dismissed off the last ball, caught by Sanju Samson, ending the innings on 192 for six.

Dube finished with three wickets for 33 runs, while Sundar took two for 29. Axar Patel also claimed two wickets earlier in the innings.

Pakistan lose wickets after positive start

Pakistan began the chase positively through Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat, who took the score to 24 without loss.

Farhan was dismissed for 10 from 11 balls by Sundar, while Axar Patel removed Usman Khan for three and then Sadaqat for 23 from 18 balls. Sadaqat struck three fours before falling to an aerial shot.

The early wickets left Pakistan under pressure, but Nawaz and Ayub counterattacked to restore momentum. Their partnership brought Pakistan to 89 for three after 11 overs and then past 100 before India regained control.

Varma and Dube lift India to 211

India’s innings also featured a strong start and a late acceleration.

Abhishek Sharma made 40 from just 14 balls, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struck two sixes in Saad Masood’s second over, which cost 24 runs. India reached 114 for three after 10 overs.

Pakistan subsequently slowed the scoring rate. Arafat Minhas dismissed Ishan Kishan for 20, while Shreyas Iyer was caught at extra cover for 21 off Abrar Ahmed.

India added only 40 runs for two wickets across the following seven overs, giving Pakistan an opportunity to restrict the total.

Late surge gives India decisive total

India finished strongly, scoring 74 runs in the final five overs.

Dube hit three sixes during his 27 from 15 balls, while Varma provided the decisive late contribution. The left-hander reached his half-century from 21 deliveries and remained unbeaten on 51 from 22 balls, hitting four sixes.

Dube also struck 23 runs from the 18th over bowled by Saim Ayub, helping India cross the 200-run mark and finish on 211 for six.

Ahmed Daniyal was Pakistan’s most successful bowler with two wickets for 43 runs from three overs, while Minhas also took two wickets. Ayub and Abrar claimed one each.

Pakistan’s chase ultimately depended heavily on Nawaz, whose 96 kept the final within reach until the closing deliveries. India’s bowling and fielding in the final overs prevented Pakistan from completing the chase and secured the gold medal.

India: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (capt), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah.

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan (capt), Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan (wk), Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Ahmed Daniyal, Saad Masood, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Moqim.