India Women stamped their authority with an emphatic 114-run demolition of Bangladesh Women to march into the final of the Asian Games. From the opening over, the defending champions played with the swagger and conviction of a side that has firmly set its sights on retaining the gold medal.
India women vs Bangladesh women: Blistering start sets the tone
Opting to bat first, India wasted no time in seizing the initiative. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma unleashed an all-out assault from both ends right from the outset. While Mandhana fell after a brisk 37 off 18 deliveries, her whirlwind knock provided immediate momentum and rattled the opposition attack. Though Gunalan Kamalini missed out on making the most of her opportunity with another low score, India never lost their grip on the contest.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur then joined Shafali to anchor the innings. The duo absorbed the initial pressure, rotated the strike with precision, and steadily accelerated the scoring rate. Harmanpreet played the perfect supporting role, compiling a composed 40 off 33 balls to give the batting order stability through the middle overs.
Shafali Verma rewrites records with blazing century
At the other end, Shafali was in unstoppable form. The power-hitting opener dismantled the bowling attack with extraordinary strokeplay, clearing the ropes with ease and dominating every bowler brought against her. Reaching three figures on the final delivery of the innings, Shafali completed an unbeaten 100 off just 49 deliveries, laced with nine huge sixes and three boundaries.
The knock propelled India to a commanding total of 195 for 4 and placed Shafali in the history books. She became the first woman cricketer to score a century in Asian Games cricket, while also equalling Harmanpreet’s national milestone for the joint-fastest T20I century by an Indian woman.
Nandani Sharma and bowling attack complete clinical rout
Faced with a mountainous target of 196, Bangladesh crumbled under relentless scoreboard pressure. While India’s pace unit set the standard early by denying any scoring avenues, it was Nandani Sharma who broke the back of the chase. Using clever changes of pace and lethal variations, Nandani picked up three crucial wickets to leave the batting side completely stranded. In the later half, Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma wrecked havoc like their usual work and shared 5 wickets between them.
Bangladesh folded meekly for just 81 in response, sealing India’s comprehensive 114-run triumph. The sheer dominance on display highlighted a team operating at the peak of its powers. As India head into the gold medal clash, the resounding victory sends an unmistakable warning to whoever stands in their way.
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