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Incheon: Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan by 68 runs to win the gold medal in the men's Twenty20 cricket event at the Asian Games on Friday.
Unlike the previous day, when Sri Lanka won a coin toss to get into the gold medal match after their semi-final with Bangladesh was washed out, luck played no part in the final.
With a strong squad featuring three members of the team that won this year's Twenty20 World Cup, Sri Lanka were too experienced and streetwise for their Afghan opponents. Although they struggled with the bat, losing their last nine wickets for just 54 runs to be dismissed for 131 in their last over, Sri Lanka's bowlers had no problems on a lively pitch.
They ripped through the opposition batting line-up in less than 18 overs, as Afghanistan crumbled to be all out for just 65. Afghanistan made a bright start, reaching 20 without loss, before the wheels suddenly fell off. Opener Najeeb Tarakai top scored with 17 but only two others made double figures.
Lahiru Thirimanne top scored for Sri Lanka with 57 off just 37 balls, hitting seven boundaries and a six. The pick of the Afghanistan bowlers was offspinner Mohammad Nabi, who took four wickets for 18 runs.
Four years ago, Afghanistan took the silver at the 2010 Asian Games, confirming their emergence in a sport the country only embraced through war.
Bangladesh, gold medallists four years ago, gained some consolation for their coin toss defeat to Sri Lanka by clinching the bronze with a 27-run victory over Hong Kong in the third-place playoff.
Bangladesh made 162/6 from their 50 overs, built on the back of a sparking 46 from allrounder Shakib Al Hasan and an unbeaten 35 from Mahmudullah. Hong Kong made an explosive start to their reply, smashing three sixes from the first seven balls of their innings, before the wickets began to tumble and the run rate slowed down and they finished with 135/7.
Brief scores
Sri Lanka - 133 (Thirimanne 57, Nabi 4-18)
Afghanistan - 65 (Mendis 3-13, Udana 2-1)
Result - Sri Lanka won by 68 runs
