India beats Pakistan in Asian Games cricket final by 19 runs
India posted 211-6 to beat Pakistan's 192-6 in a blockbuster cricket final at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Saturday.
India's World T20 champions beat rivals Pakistan in a converted baseball stadium, a match that carried weight beyond sport. The two nations only meet in cricket at international tournaments, with political tensions keeping them apart otherwise.
Abhishek Sharma hit 61 off just 20 balls in a powerful start to India's innings. Tilak Varma finished unbeaten on 51 as India built momentum, scoring their runs across 20 overs.
Pakistan fought hard with Hasan Nawaz scoring 96, but fell 19 runs short chasing India's total. India's highest score of the tournament gave them gold in front of a raucous crowd.
The Indian players paraded their national flag around the modest ground after victory. It was one of the tournament's most watched matches.
- 211-6
- India total
- 192-6
- Pakistan total
- 19 runs
- Victory margin
- 2,500
- Stadium capacity
Why it mattersIndia and Pakistan only meet in cricket at neutral grounds in world tournaments, so every clash carries huge emotional and national weight for both countries and their fans.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, though the Asian Games remain a key competition for Australian athletes competing across multiple sports in Japan.
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