India set up Asian Games final against Pakistan after Sri Lanka rout
India thrashed Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the Asian Games men's cricket semifinal on Thursday — 169/7 answered by 45 all out — to set up a gold-medal clash with Pakistan on Saturday at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin.
India stormed into the gold-medal match of the Asian Games men's cricket competition with a 124-run demolition of Sri Lanka in the semifinal at Nisshin, Japan, on Thursday, setting up the final every fan wanted: India versus Pakistan.
Batting first, India posted 169 for 7, powered by Ishan Kishan's superb unbeaten 80 off 46 balls and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's brisk 38 off 21. The bowlers then produced a ruthless display: Sri Lanka were skittled for 45 in 9.5 overs, with Jasprit Bumrah (2/7) striking early and Axar Patel (2/8) cleaning up.
The final is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, at 10:00 AM IST at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin — the same ground that hosted both semifinals. Pakistan booked their place by beating Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-shortened semifinal.
India are the defending champions, having won gold at the Hangzhou 2023 Games. For Pakistan it would be a first men's cricket gold at the Asian Games. The match will be broadcast in India on the Sony Sports Network and streamed on SonyLIV.
The result capped a strong day for India at the Games, with the men's hockey team also reaching its final and India's medal tally crossing 60.