Hasan Nawaz's 96 in vain as Pakistan take Asian Games silver

Hasan Nawaz played the innings of his life, but his 96 off 51 balls was not enough as Pakistan fell 19 runs short of India’s 211-6 to settle for silver in the Asian Games men’s cricket final in Nisshin, Japan, on Saturday.

Pakistan finished on 192-6 at Korogi Athletic Park, Dawn reported. Hasan hit five fours and seven sixes before he was caught behind off the very last ball of the match, four runs short of a century.

A final over of drama

Pakistan needed 33 from the last over, bowled by Shivam Dube. Hasan hit a boundary and a six to keep the dream alive, but Dube’s yorker and two dot balls followed. Needing four for his hundred off the final ball, Hasan tried to clear the infield and was caught by wicket-keeper Sanju Samson.

The fightback

Pakistan were in trouble early, at 39-3 after six overs:

• Sahibzada Farhan, the captain, made 10 before he was caught at deep midwicket
• Usman Khan fell for three
• Maaz Sadaqat made 23 off 18 balls

Hasan and Saim Ayub then rebuilt with a stand of 87 for the fourth wicket. Hasan reached his fifty off just 28 balls and attacked India’s spinners, taking Ravi Bishnoi for 44 in three overs.

But Dube removed Saim for 29 at 126, and Abdul Samad, the hero of the semi-final, fell for nine. Hasan kept swinging, reaching 68 off 36 balls, and Saad Masood hit two sixes in an unbeaten 12 off five balls. But Jasprit Bumrah’s fourth over cost only 11, and the target was just out of reach.

India’s big total

India were propelled past 200 by a late stand of 62 off 31 balls between Tilak Varma and Dube. Varma hit 51 not out off 22 balls, and opener Abhishek Sharma smashed 61 off 28 with seven sixes.

India raced to 114 in the first 10 overs, but Pakistan fought back in the middle overs. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made 15 before Usman Khan caught him off Saim, Sanju Samson fell for two to Ahmed Daniyal, Ishan Kishan made 20 before falling to Arafat Minhas, and Shreyas Iyer was out for 21 to Abrar Ahmed.

For Pakistan, Arafat Minhas took 2-25 and Ahmed Daniyal 2-43, while Abrar Ahmed and Saim took one wicket each.

Scorecard in brief

• India: 211-6 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 61, Tilak Varma 51 not out, Shivam Dube 27; Arafat Minhas 2-25, Ahmed Daniyal 2-43)
• Pakistan: 192-6 in 20 overs (Hasan Nawaz 96, Saim Ayub 29, Maaz Sadaqat 23)

Sri Lanka won bronze, beating Bangladesh by 63 runs.

Pride in silver

Pakistan reached the final with a six-wicket win over Bangladesh, after their quarter-final was washed out. A young side has come home with a silver medal and a new star in Hasan Nawaz.

Why it matters

Losing to India in a final always hurts, but this was a performance to be proud of. Few batters would have kept Pakistan in a chase of 212 against Bumrah and company, and Hasan’s 96 will be remembered long after these Games. Read our report on the semi-final win over Bangladesh.

This article draws on reporting by Dawn.