Top-seeded India clinch gold medal after washout
Shahidullah's 49 lifted Afghanistan after an early collapse before rain stopped play in the final
Shahidullah's 49 lifted Afghanistan after an early collapse before rain stopped play in the final
Scorer: Sudeep Poojar | Commentator: Shashwat Kumar
5:07pm A bit of a dampener really (both literally and metaphorically) but it is what it is. Afghanistan, on a surface that was turning, might have run India close. Or, India might have obliterated this target like they did yesterday. A shame that we will never know.
We hope you enjoyed our coverage throughout the cricket competitions at the Asian Games. Until next time, this is me (Shashwat) saying goodbye on behalf of Sudeep and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!
5:01pm It's official, folks. The final has been called off, and India, by virtue of having a higher seeding, win the gold medal. It is a clean sweep then, as far as the cricket competitions at this Asian Games are concerned. Afghanistan, meanwhile, have to settle for silver. Not the sort of conclusion any of us wanted but in the end, it was the weather that won, and rid us of what could have been an intriguing contest.
4:52pm For what it is worth, the covers are firmly in place and the rain seems to still be falling, judging by the spots on the broadcast camera.
4:47pm 5:18pm (local time) is the latest this game can restart for a five-over run-chase. That is about half an hour from now...
4:39pm For all those asking what happens if the game is abandoned. Well, India will win the gold medal because they are the higher-seeded side among the two. Does feel a little anti-climactic, but it is what it is.
4:19pm We are hearing that the rain has picked up in Hangzhou. Fingers crossed that we can see some action soon.
The Indian women's kabaddi team has won Asian Games gold - their third one so far. Yet, this women's team that are stars abroad are forgotten at home - with the kabaddi system not offering them the same spotlight as they do the men's team. Remember their names.
3:54pm Live pictures have returned and the players have indeed gone off. The covers are coming on, and a few spectators have gotten their raincoats out too.
3:51pm Okay, what is happening here?! Looked like the umpires were originally asking for the ground staff to bring on the covers. Now, the fourth umpire is out there with a box of balls. The Indian players might have been in the umpires' ear, telling them how difficult it had become to bowl with the drizzle around. No live pictures to help us understand the situation either, so we wait.
Lots of towels in play, wiping the moisture off the ball
Shahbaz to bowl the penultimate over. Around the wicket to Shahidullah for now. Deep square leg, deep mid wicket and long on are on the fence, along with long off and deep cover point
Will India go back to Dube or trust one of their spinners to bowl the penultimate over? Either way, Afghanistan will be looking to cash in
Shahidullah's 49 lifted Afghanistan after an early collapse before rain stopped play in the final