SportsPosted at: Oct 3 2026 1:54PM


Tilak's late blitz helps India survive Nawaz assault, win Asian Games gold

Nisshin, Oct 3 (UNI) Tilak Varma's breathtaking late assault gave India the crucial cushion before their bowlers held their nerve against a sensational Hasan Nawaz onslaught, as India beat Pakistan by 19 runs to clinch the men's T20 cricket gold medal at the Asian Games here on Saturday.
In a final that swung dramatically between the two sides, Tilak smashed an unbeaten 51 off just 22 balls to propel India to 211 for six before Nawaz nearly produced an extraordinary chase with a blistering 96 off 51 balls.
Pakistan eventually finished on 192 for six, with Nawaz's dismissal off the final ball ending their hopes and triggering celebrations in the Indian camp.
Tilak's innings proved particularly valuable because it came when India needed acceleration.
After Abhishek Sharma had given India a flying start with 61 off 28 balls, Pakistan's bowlers had managed to slow the scoring through the middle overs.
Tilak, however, changed the tempo completely.
He joined Dube and the pair added 62 runs from just 30 balls. Dube contributed 27 off 15 balls, while Tilak launched a series of attacking strokes to ensure India finished strongly.
India scored 57 runs in the last three overs, with Tilak producing the decisive burst.
The left-hander hit three fours and four sixes and finished with a strike rate of 231.81. He saved his most damaging assault for the final over, smashing consecutive sixes before completing his fifty with a quick single off the last ball.
That finish gave Pakistan a target of 212 and appeared to put India firmly in control.
But Nawaz had other ideas.
Pakistan's chase began badly as they slipped to 39 for three, but Nawaz launched a remarkable counter-attack and dragged his side back into the contest. He reached his half-century from just 28 balls and, together with Saim Ayub, added 87 for the fourth wicket.
Ayub made 29 off 22 balls before Shivam Dube broke the partnership in the 15th over, but Nawaz continued to attack.
He moved from 50 off 28 balls to 76 off 38 and then 88 off 46, repeatedly finding the boundary against India's attack.
With Pakistan needing 33 runs from the final over, the contest was still alive.
Saad Masood struck two sixes in the closing stages and Nawaz moved to 94 after hitting a four and a six, leaving Pakistan within sight of an improbable victory.
Dube, however, held his nerve.
On the final delivery, Nawaz attempted another big shot but nicked a slower bouncer and was caught behind by Sanju Samson for 96.
Pakistan ended on 192 for six, 19 runs short of India's total.
Dube finished with two for 33, while Axar Patel and Washington Sundar also claimed two wickets each. Bumrah went wicketless but conceded only 33 runs in his four overs.
Earlier, Abhishek had set the platform for India's imposing total, smashing seven sixes and three fours in his 28-ball 61. He reached his fifty in only 20 balls as India raced to 81 in the powerplay.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added 15 off nine balls, but India lost Sanju Samson for two and Shreyas Iyer for 21 as Pakistan fought back.
Ishan Kishan made 20 off 18 before India turned to Tilak for the final assault.
Pakistan's Arafat Minhas was their most successful bowler with two for 25, while Ahmed Daniyal took two for 43.
India's total ultimately proved just sufficient, despite Nawaz taking the chase to the final delivery.
The victory gave India the men's T20 gold medal, with Pakistan taking silver, and extended India's winning streak against Pakistan in men's T20 internationals to seven matches.
For India, it was Tilak's 22-ball finishing blitz that supplied the margin for error they needed when Nawaz turned the final into a near-heist.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Tilak's late blitz helps India survive Nawaz assault# win Asian Games gold
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