India beat arch-rivals Pakistan in Japan to claim Asian Games cricket gold

India 211-6; Pakistan 192-6 in Twenty20 cricket final Captains refuse traditional pre-match handshakes India beat their fierce rivals Pakistan by 19 runs to complete a golden double in the Asian Games cricket after a pulsating final in front of a small but raucous crowd in Nagoya

India 211-6; Pakistan 192-6 in Twenty20 cricket final Captains refuse traditional pre-match handshakes India beat their fierce rivals Pakistan by 19 runs to complete a golden double in the Asian Games cricket after a pulsating final in front of a small but raucous crowd in Nagoya, Japan. The T20 world champions posted 211 for six in their 20 overs with Abhishek Sharma scoring 61 and Tilak Varma 51 not out, before Hasan Nawaz’s valiant 96 saw Pakistan come up short at 192 for six. The neighbouring countries only meet in international tournaments and on neutral ground because of political tensions and the captains refused the normal handshakes before the match on Saturday.

Afterwards, the jubilant India players paraded their national flag around the ground. The clash on a converted baseball field in Japan was new ground for even these rivals and their hundreds of millions of fans who were watching back home on television. Continue reading...