[WATCH] Asian Games 2026: Washington Sundar pulls off stunning boundary-rope catch to dismiss Maaz Sadaqat

Washington Sundar produced one of the fielding highlights of the 2026 Asian Games men's cricket final on October 3, pulling off a juggling boundary-rope catch to dismiss Maaz Sadaqat during Pakistan's chase at Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

The dismissal came off the bowling of Axar Patel. Sadaqat, who had scored 23 runs off 18 balls including three fours, attempted a sweep over backward square leg on the very first delivery after the fielding restrictions were lifted. Axar bowled from round the wicket and the ball drifted across, inviting the shot.

How Washington Sundar completed the boundary-rope catch

Sundar ran to his left in the deep and took the catch on the run, but his momentum was carrying him towards the rope. Realising he was about to cross the boundary, he threw the ball up before his feet went over the line, stepped back inside the field, and completed the catch on the second attempt. The dismissal was reviewed before being confirmed as out. Pakistan had lost their third wicket at a score of 39 runs when the catch was confirmed.

It was not the only sharp piece of fielding from Sundar on the day. He also ran in from deep square leg to claim a tumbling catch and dismiss Saim Ayub, who had made 29 off 22 balls with two boundaries and one six. Sundar finished with two catches in the field on a day when India's overall fielding was otherwise described as sloppy.

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India's bowling effort in Pakistan's chase

India had won the toss and elected to bat first, posting 211/6 in their 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma both scored half-centuries. For Pakistan with the ball, Ahmed Daniyal and Arafat Minhas claimed two wickets each.

Pakistan's chase was kept alive for a period by a fifty-run partnership between Ayub and Hasan Nawaz. Nawaz was the standout batter in the chase, scoring 96 off 51 balls, but Pakistan could not sustain the required rate throughout their innings. Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube each took two wickets to help India bowl Pakistan out and seal the match by 19 runs.

India's victory gave them the men's cricket gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, their 19th gold of the Games overall, which moved them to fifth in the medal tally. India had also won the gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, making this a successful defence. For Pakistan, it was a missed opportunity to claim their first men's cricket gold at the Asian Games.