By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
India clinched the men’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games with a 19-run victory over Pakistan in a high-scoring final on Saturday, riding on a blazing half-century by Abhishek Sharma and a disciplined bowling effort in the closing stages.
India, sent in to bat, posted 211 for six in 20 overs, with Abhishek smashing 61 off just 28 balls, including three fours and seven sixes. He provided the early impetus before being stumped off Arafat Minhas in the eighth over.
Tilak Varma then produced a spectacular finish, remaining unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls with three fours and four sixes. Shivam Dube chipped in with a quick 27 off 15 balls, while Ishan Kishan made 20 and captain Shreyas Iyer scored 21.
Chasing 212, Pakistan appeared to be in contention largely because of a sensational 96 off 51 balls by Hasan Nawaz, who smashed five fours and seven sixes. But India’s bowlers kept their nerve and prevented Pakistan from completing the chase.
Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube took two wickets each, restricting Pakistan to 192 for six in their 20 overs. Axar and Washington both conceded just 29 runs in their four overs, while Dube finished with two for 33.
Pakistan’s chase suffered an early setback as captain Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan and Maaz Sadaqat fell with only 39 runs on the board. Hasan Nawaz and Saim Ayub revived their hopes with a substantial partnership, but once Ayub fell for 29 and Nawaz was dismissed with the final ball of the innings, Pakistan’s challenge ended.
The victory gave India another gold medal in cricket at the Asian Games and capped a memorable campaign against their traditional rivals.