India post 211/6 against Pakistan in Asian Games cricket final as Abhishek, Tilak shine
India posted a formidable 211 for six against Pakistan in the men's cricket final at the Asian Games on Saturday, powered by explosive half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma.
Abhishek smashed 61 off 28 balls, including seven sixes and three fours, while Tilak remained unbeaten on 51 off just 22 deliveries to give India a strong finish on a tricky pitch.
Abhishek tore into Pakistan's spin-heavy attack, bringing up his half-century in just 20 balls. The left-hander, who had also impressed against Pakistan during last year's Asia Cup, repeatedly cleared the boundary despite conditions favouring the spinners.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided India with a brisk start, scoring 15 off nine balls and hitting two sixes before he was dismissed attempting a reverse hit against off-spinner Saim Ayub.
India reached 81 for two in the Powerplay before Pakistan's spinners began to slow the scoring rate.
Ishan Kishan scored 20 off 18 balls and added 35 runs with captain Shreyas Iyer, who made 21 off 24 deliveries. Left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas then broke the partnership, finishing with two wickets for 25 runs from three overs.
Arafat also ended Abhishek's onslaught by having him stumped, while leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed dismissed Iyer to leave India struggling at 133 for five after being 93 for two.
India's lower order then produced the late surge it needed.
Tilak and Shivam Dube, who scored 27 off 15 balls, added 62 runs for the sixth wicket in five overs. The pair targeted Pakistan's spinners, with 18 runs coming off Sufyan Moqim's 18th over and 23 off Saim Ayub's penultimate over.
India added another 16 runs from the final over, bowled by Ahmed Daniyal, to cross the 200-run mark.
India hit 15 sixes in their innings despite a pitch that offered considerable assistance to the spinners.
Pakistan now need 212 runs to win the Asian Games men's cricket final.
