Two more wickets saw them face a near-impossible 25 off the last over, and they could only muster five as India began to celebrate.
“It’s a golden first for us,” India assistant coach Rajib Dutta told the AFP news agency. Sri Lankan all-rounder Oshadi Ranasinghe said they had missed a good opportunity to win gold.
“Looking at the way we batted, we have to get more disciplined,” she said.
Accumulating runs has not been easy all tournament at the Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field, on a flaky wicket affected by rain last week. India won the toss and opted to bat even though both semifinals and the bronze medal match were won by the team chasing.
Bangladesh took the bronze after restricting Pakistan to 64-9 and crawling to their target of 65 in 18.2 overs in their medal playoff.
It meant Pakistan, who won the gold on both previous occasions that cricket was played in the Asian Games, return home empty-handed.
“It’s not a good feeling. We never got enough runs on the board,” said Pakistan coach Mohtashim Rasheed.
JAZEERA
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