India women clinch Asian Games cricket gold emphatically (Img: IANS)
Nisshin: India’s women successfully defended their Asian Games cricket gold after thrashing Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final at Korogi Sports Park on Tuesday.
The Women in Blue produced a commanding all-round performance, with Smriti Mandhana’s explosive 79 helping India post a record 216/3. Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, Shreyanka Patil and Sree Charani then combined to take nine wickets as Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 69.
The victory gave India their first gold medal at the ongoing Asian Games and their seventh medal overall. The Women in Blue had also won the title at the previous edition and have now successfully defended it against the same opponents.
India’s total of 216/3 was the highest score in the history of women’s cricket at the Asian Games and also became the highest-ever total in a women’s T20 event final.
Mandhana was at her destructive best, smashing 79 from just 45 balls, including seven sixes and five fours. Her innings also saw her become the first player in women’s cricket to complete 11,000 runs in international cricket.
Shafali Verma continued her impressive form after scoring her maiden white-ball century in the semifinal against Bangladesh. She made 48 from 29 deliveries, hitting three fours and three sixes.
Richa Ghosh supplied the late fireworks with an unbeaten 49 from 22 balls, while Bharti Fulmali chipped in with seven from seven deliveries to take India to 216/3.
India’s total surpassed the previous Asian Games record of 202/4, scored by Hong Kong women against Mongolia during the 2023 Hangzhou Games. It also went past the previous highest score in a women’s T20 final — Brazil women’s 210 against Spain in a quadrangular series final earlier this year.
India’s bowlers were equally impressive. Deepti Sharma led the attack with three wickets, while Shafali, Deepti and Charani also claimed two wickets each as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 69.
Shafali began the collapse by removing Imesha Dulani and Hasini Perera before Deepti made the crucial breakthrough of Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu.
Athapaththu, who scored 29, was caught at long-off off Deepti’s bowling, leaving Sri Lanka’s hopes of chasing the huge target severely dented.
Sri Lanka never managed to build momentum and continued losing wickets at regular intervals while attempting to attack the daunting target. Deepti added two more wickets, while No. 1-ranked T20I bowler Charani also picked up two.
Shreyanka Patil completed the emphatic victory by dismissing the final Sri Lankan batter, Kaushani Nuthyangana, for 14.
India 216/3 (Smriti Mandhana 79 off 45 balls, Richa Ghosh 49* off 22; Chamudi Praboda 1-34, Kavisha Dilhari 1-35) beat Sri Lanka 69 (Chamari Athapaththu 29 off 21 balls, Kaushani Nuthyangana 14 off 14; Deepti Sharma 3-6, Shafali Verma 2-3) by 147 runs.
