Asian games final: Hasan Nawaz hits belligerent half century to bring Pakistan back in the game against India

Hasan Nawaz struck a belligerent half century to give Pakistan renewed hope in the Asian Games men’s cricket final against India, but the hosts still required 86 runs from the final 36 balls after reaching 126 for three in 14 overs on Saturday. Hasan reached his half century from 28 balls, hitting five sixes and two fours, before moving to an unbeaten 58 off 30. Saim Ayub was giving him support with 29 off 21, with two fours and a six, as the pair put Pakistan back into the contest after a difficult start to their chase of 212. Pakistan’s Saim Ayub (L) makes it to the crease to avoid a runout during the men’s cricket final match between Pakistan and India during the 2026 Asian Games at the Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin on October 3, 2026. The fourth-wicket pair had taken Pakistan from 39 for three after six overs to 126 for three, adding 87 without being separated. Their partnership passed 50 in the 11th over and continued to gather pace as Hasan took particular aim at India’s spinners. He struck two sixes and a four in the 13th over from Ravi Bishnoi, reaching his half century with a six over cow corner. Hasan then hit four off Jasprit Bumrah in the following over as Pakistan took nine from the paceman’s third over. Bishnoi’s third over cost 20, with Hasan first driving a six over wide long-off before launching another into the cow-corner stands. He followed that with two twos and a four through midwicket. India’s bowlers had kept Pakistan under considerable pressure through the first 10 overs, but Hasan and Saim’s aggressive strokeplay has pushed the required rate to 14.33 an over with six overs remaining. Pakistan had reached 76 for three after 10 overs, needing 136 from 60 balls. Hasan was then 26 off 18 and Saim 12 off nine. Hasan and Saim added 50 for the fourth wicket in the 11th over, although Pakistan still required runs at a rate above 13 an over. The asking rate increased further despite a 13-run over from Abhishek Sharma because Pakistan could not score at the required rate. The momentum shifted sharply in the 13th over when Bishnoi conceded 20. Hasan’s successive sixes, followed by two and two before a boundary, lifted Pakistan to 117 for three. Bumrah returned for the 14th over and conceded nine, including four to Hasan, leaving Pakistan 86 short with 36 deliveries remaining. Pakistan had lost three wickets during the powerplay after India posted 211 for six. India’s total had been built around a late assault from Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube, who added 62 from 31 balls for the sixth wicket. Tilak remained unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls, with three fours and four sixes, while Dube made 27 off 15, striking two fours and two sixes. The partnership came after India had lost three wickets between the eighth and 15th overs and appeared to have been checked after an explosive start. Sharma provided the initial impetus, scoring 61 off 28 balls with three fours and seven sixes. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made 15 off nine before falling to Saim Ayub, while Sanju Samson was dismissed for two by Ahmed Daniyal. India reached 114 in the first 10 overs before adding another 97 in the second half of their innings. Shreyas Iyer made 21 off 24 and Ishan Kishan 20 off 18, while Axar Patel remained unbeaten on one. Varma reached his half century from 21 balls and continued attacking as India moved beyond 200. Dube was dismissed by Ahmed Daniyal in the first ball of the final over, but Tilak remained until the end to give India a total of 211 for six. Pakistan’s bowling figures were led by Arafat Minhas, who took two for 25 from three overs, and Ahmed Daniyal, who claimed two for 43. Abrar Ahmed took one for 29 and Saim Ayub one for 47, while Saad Masood and Sufyan Moqim went wicketless. Pakistan also conceded 13 extras, including 11 wides. In the chase, Sahibzada Farhan made 10 off 11 before attempting a slog-sweep against Washington Sundar and finding Axar Patel at deep midwicket. Usman Khan followed for three off six when he slogged a fuller delivery from Axar to Shivam Dube at midwicket. Maaz Sadaqat, who made 23 off 18 with three fours, then fell to Axar at the start of the seventh over, caught by Washington Sundar, leaving Pakistan 39 for three. Hasan and Saim have since transformed the chase, taking Pakistan to 126 for three after 14 overs.