Nisshin, 01 October (H.S.): Slug:

India stormed into the men’s cricket final at the Asian Games 2026 with a commanding 124-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second semi-final on Thursday. India will face Pakistan in the gold-medal match on Saturday.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field. India posted 169 for seven in their allotted 20 overs, powered by an unbeaten 80 from Ishan Kishan and a brisk 38 from 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi. In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 45 in 9.5 overs.

Chasing 170, Sri Lanka made a disastrous start as Jasprit Bumrah struck twice in the opening over, dismissing Sineth Jayawardene for a duck and Sohan De Livera without scoring.

Axar Patel was introduced in the second over and immediately contributed to Sri Lanka’s collapse when Lasith Croospulle was run out off the first delivery. Axar then dismissed captain Sahan Arachchige for nine and Ashen Bandara for a duck in the fourth over, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 18 for five.

Nuwanidu Fernando briefly attempted to revive the innings, hitting two sixes off Washington Sundar. However, he was run out for 15 with Sri Lanka on 31.

Sundar claimed Sri Lanka’s seventh wicket in the seventh over when Vanuja Sahan was dismissed for one. Sahan attempted a reverse sweep, but the ball went straight to first slip, where Abhishek Sharma completed a straightforward catch.

In the 10th over, Tilak Varma produced a direct hit to run out Tharindu Ratnayake for five, giving Sri Lanka their eighth wicket. It was the third run-out of the Sri Lankan innings.

Abhishek Sharma then finished the contest in the same over, claiming two wickets from the next two deliveries. Sanju Samson stumped Chamika Karunaratne for four off the fourth ball, before Binura Fernando was bowled off the following delivery.

Sri Lanka were consequently dismissed for 45 in just 9.5 overs. Bumrah, Axar and Abhishek took two wickets each, while Sundar claimed one. Three Sri Lankan batters were dismissed through run-outs.

Earlier, Ishan Kishan’s unbeaten 80 off 46 deliveries helped India post 169 for seven and set Sri Lanka a target of 170.

India opened with Abhishek Sharma and 15-year-old left-hander Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Sri Lanka began with spinner Tharindu Ratnayake, who conceded five runs in the opening over, including a boundary from Suryavanshi.

Abhishek opened his account with a six in the following over but was dismissed by Sahan Arachchige from the very next delivery. He scored seven from three balls.

Sanju Samson came to the crease but lasted only briefly before Ratnayake dismissed him in his second over. Samson also scored seven.

Captain Shreyas Iyer promoted himself ahead of Kishan and joined Suryavanshi at the crease. The pair added 35 runs for the third wicket, with Suryavanshi providing the attacking impetus.

The teenager struck two boundaries in Binura Fernando’s over before smashing three consecutive fours in Ratnayake’s next over. Another boundary off Fernando took India to 58 during the powerplay.

Soon after the powerplay, Arachchige dismissed Suryavanshi, giving Sri Lanka their third breakthrough. India’s scoring rate subsequently slowed.

Kishan continued to look for boundaries, but Iyer was dismissed in the 10th over after scoring 13 from 13 deliveries.

Sri Lanka’s spinners then managed to restrict the Indian batters for several overs. In the 14th over, Lasith Croospulle dismissed Axar Patel, who made eight from 13 balls.

Kishan attempted to accelerate in the following over, hitting two boundaries, but Tilak Varma was dismissed by Nuwanidu Fernando off the final delivery of the over.

Shivam Dube joined Kishan but was dismissed for three from nine deliveries. Kishan brought up his half-century with a six and then found at least one boundary in each of the next three overs.

In the final over, Washington Sundar and Kishan both hit sixes to take India to a competitive total of 169 for seven.

Kishan remained unbeaten on 80 from 46 balls, striking five sixes and four fours, as India secured a place in the gold-medal match against Pakistan.

Pakistan had earlier defeated Bangladesh by four wickets in the first semi-final to set up the high-profile India-Pakistan final. Sri Lanka will face Bangladesh in the bronze-medal match.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar