Defending champions India stormed into the men’s T20 cricket gold medal match at the 20th Asian Games with a commanding 124-run victory over Sri Lanka in the semifinal on Thursday.
After winning the toss and opting to field, Sri Lanka’s spin-heavy attack made an encouraging start on a turning surface, restricting India’s top order and removing Abhishek Sharma for seven runs. Captain Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel also fell during the middle overs.
However, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struck a quick 38 off 21 balls to keep India’s innings moving before Ishan Kishan took control of the contest.
Kishan produced an unbeaten 80 off 46 deliveries, smashing five sixes and four boundaries as he negotiated Sri Lanka’s spinners effectively. His late-innings partnership with Washington Sundar helped India score 18 runs in the final over and finish on 169 for seven from their 20 overs.
Sri Lanka’s chase then collapsed under pressure from India’s bowling attack. Jasprit Bumrah struck twice in the opening over, including the dismissal of Sineth Jayawardene for a duck.
India’s spinners continued to dominate, with Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma extracting significant turn from the pitch as Sri Lanka struggled to build partnerships.
Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for just 45 runs in 9.5 overs, handing India a 124-run victory and a place in the gold medal match.
India will face Pakistan in the final on Saturday after Pakistan defeated Bangladesh in the other semifinal. Sri Lanka will meet Bangladesh in the bronze medal playoff as they look to finish the tournament with a medal.
