Hangzhou: India’s women’s cricket team delivered another dominant performance on the continental stage, defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the Asian Games final to secure their second consecutive gold medal in the competition.
Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India posted a record 216 for three, setting Sri Lanka a formidable target of 217. The total proved far beyond Sri Lanka’s reach as the island nation was bowled out for just 69 in 15.4 overs.
The victory also gave India its first gold medal of the ongoing Asian Games edition.
Mandhana and Shafali Set Up Record Total
India made an explosive start after Harmanpreet won the toss and opted to bat. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma immediately put the Sri Lankan bowling attack under pressure, adding 99 runs from 60 balls.
Mandhana was the standout batter, producing an elegant yet aggressive 79 from 45 deliveries. Her innings featured seven sixes, with the left-hander repeatedly finding the boundary against Sri Lanka’s spinners.
Shafali provided equally valuable support with 48 off 29 balls, ensuring India maintained a high scoring rate throughout the powerplay and middle overs.
India reached 59 without loss after six overs, establishing the foundation for a huge total.
Sri Lanka struggled to contain the Indian batters, with captain Chamari Athapaththu also coming under pressure when she bowled the fifth over and conceded 19 runs.
Richa Ghosh Finishes with a Flourish
After Shafali departed, Harmanpreet Kaur joined Mandhana but could score only 19 from 17 deliveries before being caught in the deep.
Mandhana then fell while attempting another aggressive shot, bringing Richa Ghosh into the spotlight.
Richa produced a spectacular late-innings assault, scoring 48 not out from 22 balls. Her innings included seven fours and three sixes, helping India cross the 200-run mark.
India eventually finished on 216 for three, the highest team total recorded in women’s cricket at the Asian Games, setting Sri Lanka a daunting chase.
Indian Spinners Destroy Sri Lankan Chase
The target quickly became an uphill task for Sri Lanka.
Captain Chamari Athapaththu top-scored with 29 from 21 balls, but there was little support from the rest of the batting order. India’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure as wickets fell regularly.
Shafali Verma contributed with the ball as well, taking two wickets for three runs, while Deepti Sharma returned exceptional figures of 3/6. Shree Charani also claimed two wickets as India completed the victory in just 15.4 overs.
Sri Lanka were eventually dismissed for 69, giving India a massive 147-run victory.
India Continue Continental Dominance
The triumph marks India’s second successive women’s cricket gold at the Asian Games, reinforcing the team’s strong record in the continental competition.
India had entered the final as one of the leading contenders and produced three convincing victories during the tournament. The final followed a familiar pattern from the recent Asia Cup, where Sri Lanka also faced India in the title clash.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan secured the bronze medal after defeating Bangladesh by 31 runs.
With the women’s team successfully defending its Asian Games crown, attention will now turn to India’s men’s cricket team as it looks to defend its own title.
