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Asian games 2023 Cricket

'History scripted in China' - Fans react as India wins gold in 2022 Asian Games men’s cricket after final abandoned due to rain

Team India was awarded the gold medal since it is the higher-ranked team in the competition. 

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Mathew K
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Asian Games 2022

IND vs AFG Asian Games 2022 final

A fortnight ago, the Indian women's cricket team won gold at the 2022 Asian Games, and now their men's team also scripted history in China. The Men in Blue bagged gold after the Asian Games final against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain in Hangzhou on Saturday, October 7. India was awarded the gold since it is the higher-ranked team in the competition. 

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Indian captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and elected to field first before rain delayed the start by 20 minutes. There was a drizzle since the 15th over of Afghanistan's batting innings and finally brought the covers in the 19th over. There were no positive updates and the match was called off in 18.2 overs with the scoreboard reading 112/5. Afghanistan, ranked 10th in the Men's T20I rankings, were awarded silver for their impressive campaign.  

Talking about the first innings, India's decision to bowl first paid off as Afghanistan's top order struggled to find any resistance. They were reduced to 12/3 in the fourth over and could recover from that early collapse. All-rounder Shivam Dube drew first blood by dismissing their opener Zubaid Akbari for 5 off 8 in the second over. In the very next over, Arshdeep Singh removed Mohammad Shahzad before Noor Ali Zadran was run out in the fourth over. 

India sent half of Afghanistan back into the hut inside 11 overs 

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Shahidullah Kamal and Afsar Zazai then tried to steady the ship for Afghanistan but their 46-run partnership was broken by Ravi Bishnoi in the 10th over. The right-arm spinner sent Zazai (15 off 20) with a beautiful delivery. Left-arm orthodox Shahbaz Ahmed struck in the following over by taking the wicket of Karim Janat, leaving his opponent reeling at 52-5 in 10.5 overs.  

Later, Kamal and captain Gulbadin Naib formed a partnership that ensured that no more wickets fell. However, that did not hurt India as their bowlers kept the run rate in check. Kamal remained unbeaten on 49 off 43 balls while Naib was not out on 27 off 24 balls. 

 

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Here's how fans reacted to the Indian men's cricket team winning gold at the 2022 Asian Games: 

India Asian games 2023