Hasan Nawaz’s fighting 96 went in vain as Pakistan fell 19 runs short of India’s 212-run target to settle for silver in the Asian Games men’s cricket final at the Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Japan on Saturday.

Hasan struck five fours and seven sixes in his 51-ball innings before being caught behind off Shivam Dube from the final ball of the match, with Pakistan finishing on 192 for six.

Needing 33 from the last over after reaching 179 for five, Pakistan kept their hopes alive when Hasan hit Dube for a boundary and then a six. But a yorker from the India all-rounder followed by two dot balls left Hasan needing four for his century from the final delivery.

He attempted to clear the infield but was caught by wicket-keeper Sanju Samson, ending an innings that had briefly brought Pakistan back into contention.

Hasan’s dismissal completed a remarkable recovery after Pakistan had been 39 for three after six overs. He and Saim Ayub put on 87 for the fourth wicket before Saim was dismissed for 29 off 22 balls in the 15th over.

Hasan had reached his half-century from 28 balls and continued to attack India’s spinners, particularly Ravi Bishnoi, who conceded 44 from his three overs.

Pakistan were 126 for three after 14 overs, requiring 86 from the last 36 balls, but Dube removed Saim and Abdul Samad in successive stages of the closing overs to keep India ahead.

Saim was caught by Washington Sundar at square leg for 29 after attempting to use Dube’s pace, while Samad made nine before being caught by Tilak Varma off Washington in the 18th over.

Despite those setbacks, Hasan continued the assault. He reached 68 from 36 balls after hitting Axar Patel for a six in the 16th over and then struck two fours in Dube’s next over, one of them coming through an edge after he flashed at a short, wide delivery.

Pakistan reached 160 for four after 17 overs, needing 52 from the final 18 balls.

Saad Masood kept the chase alive with two sixes in his unbeaten 12 off five balls, but Bumrah’s fourth over yielded only 11 runs, leaving Pakistan 33 short with six balls remaining.

Dube was given the final over and conceded a boundary and a six to Hasan, but his yorkers at the crucial moment denied Pakistan the chance to complete the chase.

India’s bowlers had earlier kept Pakistan under pressure after the batters had posted 211 for six.

Pakistan’s chase had begun brightly enough but lost momentum after Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Khan departed in successive overs.

Farhan made 10 off 11 balls before attempting a slog-sweep against Sundar and finding Patel at deep midwicket. Usman followed for three off six, slogging a fuller delivery from Patel to Dube at midwicket.

Maaz Sadaqat, who made 23 off 18 balls with three fours, was then caught by Sundar off Patel at the start of the seventh over to leave Pakistan 39 for three.

Hasan and Saim rebuilt the innings, taking Pakistan to 76 for three at the halfway stage. Hasan was then 26 off 18 and Ayub 12 off nine.

The pair accelerated through the middle overs, with Hasan reaching his half-century from 28 balls. Their 87-run partnership gave Pakistan a realistic chance of chasing India’s imposing total, but Dube’s dismissal of Saim at 126 proved a significant turning point.

Varma stars

India had earlier been propelled to 211 for six by Varma and Dube, who added 62 from 31 balls for the sixth wicket.

Varma remained unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls, striking three fours and four sixes, while Dube made 27 off 15 with two fours and two sixes.

India had lost three wickets between the eighth and 15th overs after making an explosive start, but the late partnership lifted them beyond 200.

Abhishek Sharma provided the initial impetus with 61 off 28 balls, hitting three fours and seven sixes. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made 15 off nine before being caught by Usman off Saim, while Sanju Samson was dismissed for two by Ahmed Daniyal.

Shreyas Iyer made 21 off 24 balls and Ishan Kishan 20 off 18. Ishan fell to Arafat Minhas at 128, while Iyer was dismissed by Abrar Ahmed five runs later.

India reached 114 in the first 10 overs before adding 97 in the second half of the innings. Varma reached his half-century from 21 balls and remained unbeaten, while Dube was dismissed by Daniyal in the first ball of the final over.

For Pakistan, Arafat took two for 25 from three overs and Daniyal two for 43. Abrar took one for 29 and Saim one for 47. Saad and Sufyan Moqim went wicketless.