India, Pakistan set up Asian Games cricket final
New Delhi, Oct 1 (UNI) Defending champions India stormed into the men's cricket final at the Asian Games with a commanding 124-run win over Sri Lanka, setting up a blockbuster gold-medal clash against Pakistan in Nisshin on October 3.
India's victory was built around a disciplined bowling effort after Ishan Kishan's unbeaten 80 had helped them post 169/7. Sri Lanka were then blown away for just 45 in 9.4 overs, with Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar sharing the damage as India secured a place in the summit clash.
India were given an early setback after Sri Lanka opted to bowl, with Abhishek Sharma falling to Sahan Arachchige in the opening over. Sanju Samson followed soon after, dismissed by Tharindu Ratnayake to leave India at 24/2. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, however, counter-attacked with a brisk 38 off 21 balls, giving the innings some momentum before Arachchige accounted for him in the seventh over. Shreyas Iyer then departed for 13, leaving India needing another partnership to build a competitive total.
That responsibility was taken up by Kishan and Axar Patel. Kishan, batting at No. 5, found his range quickly and struck five sixes and four boundaries in an unbeaten 80 off 46 balls. His assault in the latter half of the innings lifted India to 169/7 from their 20 overs. Sri Lanka's chase lasted barely four overs as India's bowlers ran through their batting line-up. Bumrah set the tone by removing Sineth Jayawardena and Sohan de Livera without scoring in the first over. Ravi Bishnoi then produced a direct hit to run out Lasith Croospulle, leaving Sri Lanka at 2/3 after 1.1 overs. Axar compounded the damage in the fourth over, dismissing captain Arachchige and Ashen Bandara to reduce Sri Lanka to 12/5.
Another run-out, this time involving Nuwanidu Fernando, left the chase in complete disarray. Washington Sundar and Abhishek Sharma then cleaned up the lower order as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 45 in just 9.4 overs. Fernando, with 10, was the only batter to reach double figures. Pakistan booked their place in the gold-medal match after overcoming Bangladesh in a low-scoring semifinal, winning with four balls to spare in a 13-over-a-side contest. Bangladesh, sent in after Pakistan chose to field, struggled against the spin of Arafat Minhas and Saim Ayub and were reduced to 21/3 in the fourth over.
Towhid Hridoy provided some resistance with 42 off 25 balls, but Sufyan Moqim's three-wicket haul prevented Bangladesh from building a bigger total as they finished on 111/7. Pakistan's chase also wobbled early, with Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Rishad Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman each taking a wicket. At 53/4 at the start of the seventh over, Bangladesh were in the contest. Abdul Samad, however, changed the course of the chase with an unbeaten 30 off 15 balls, including five fours and a six.
He combined with Hasan Nawaz, who made 27 not out off 22, for an unbeaten 59-run partnership to take Pakistan into the final. India and Pakistan will now meet for the Asian Games gold medal on Saturday, with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka playing the bronze-medal match earlier in the day.
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