Hangzhou, China, October 6, 2023: India stormed into the final of the men’s cricket competition at the Hangzhou Asian Games with a rollicking nine-wicket victory over Bangladesh on Friday.
Having restricted Bangladesh to 96 for nine in 20 overs, India chased down the total for the loss of one wicket with more than 10 overs to spare. It was quite comfortable and makes the Asian Games debutants raging hot favourites for the gold medal on Saturday.
India will meet Afghanistan in the final. Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by four wickets in the other semi-final of the Twenty20 competition.
“It seemed a comfortable win, but every win takes an effort and today the bowling and fielding was spot on. We can take great positives going into the final,” said Indian captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.
He was being modest – not mentioning the batting, where he scored 40 off 26 deliveries and figured in an unbeaten partnership of 97 with Tilak Varma, 55 in 26 balls, as the world powerhouse cricketing nation romped home at the Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field.
“We are really focused on playing good cricket and ticking all the boxes,” Gaikwad said. “We go into any event with the aim to win, whether it is a trophy or a gold medal.”
India’s varied spin attack led by left-arm orthodox bowler Sai Kishore and off-spinner Washington Sundar paved the foundation for the convincing victory as they picked up wickets regularly. Kishore finished with three for 12 off his four overs while Sundar grabbed two for 15.
None of the Bangladesh batters got out of first gear, apart from tail-ender Rakibul Hasan who hit a six and two boundaries in his 14, as they caved under the relentless pressure of a poor run rate.
India lost dasher Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first over, caught at short fine leg, but skipper Gaikwad and Varma launched a blitz which left the Bangladeshis shell-shocked. Gaikwad hit three sixes and four boundaries while Varma hammered six sixes and two fours.
“Winning the gold medal means a lot to us. It is amazing to be playing at the Asian Games and we are excited to be here,” said Indian all-rounder Sundar.
Meanwhile, from a healthy 49 for one in 7th over, Pakistan were skittled out for 115. The chief wreckers for Afghanistan were left-arm pacer Fareed Ahmad, who took three wickets, and spinners Qais Ahmad and Zahir Khan who grabbed a brace each.
Afghanistan then had to survive a few anxious moments in the run chase before Gulbadin Naib steered them home with 12 balls to spare. He scored an unbeaten 26 with 16 of those runs coming in the 18th over, including the winning boundary, off wayward Pakistan pacey Aamer Jamel. Afghanistan finished on 116 for six
The Asian Games will have a new champion on Saturday. Bangladesh, winners in 2010 Guangzhou, and Sri Lanka, winners in 2014 Incheon, have been knocked out.
